old-school

1 of 2

adjective

Synonyms of old-schoolnext
1
: adhering to traditional policies or practices
an old-school coach
2
: characteristic or evocative of an earlier or original style, manner, or form
old-school music

old school

2 of 2

noun

: adherents of traditional policies and practices

Examples of old-school in a Sentence

Adjective an old-school romantic comedy in which the two leads don't jump into bed at the first opportunity an old-school gentleman who opened doors and pulled out chairs for women
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Adjective
Look no further than this two-story renovated machiya that masterfully blends old-school charm with modern, functional design. Payton Turkeltaub, Vogue, 12 Mar. 2026 At the helm of all this fanfare is Oisin Rogers, an old-school landlord who has been working in London pubs for 30 years. Sarah Allard, Condé Nast Traveler, 11 Mar. 2026 Sean Payton seems like an old-school guy and might rely on feel or the eye test. Parker Gabriel, Denver Post, 11 Mar. 2026 Somewhere between the foodie flare of The Penny and the old-school parlor charm of Marianne’s sits Bruster’s, an upscale ice creamery with sweet treats that should appeal to the entire family. Jim Harrington, Mercury News, 10 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for old-school

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

1803, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun

1749, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of old-school was in 1749

Browse Nearby Words

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Old-school.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/old-school. Accessed 15 Mar. 2026.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster