1,400 new words in our dictionary! — Parasocial, glow-up, promposal & more
1,400 new words in our dictionary! — More

old-fashioned

adjective

ˈōl(d)-ˈfa-shənd How to pronounce old-fashioned (audio)
Definition of old-fashionednext
1
as in vintage
pleasantly reminiscent of an earlier time an elegant, old-fashioned bun that was held in place with pearl hairpins

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in traditional
tending to favor established ideas, conditions, or institutions I'm so old-fashioned that I actually think people should use standard grammar and punctuation when composing e-mails

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of old-fashioned That gives the car a charming, old-fashioned feel that belies the modern tech within. — Rachel Cormack, Robb Report, 8 June 2026 These provers, along with old-fashioned human ingenuity, knocked down the open questions one at a time. — Quanta Magazine, 8 June 2026 According to the Washingtonian, an old-fashioned telephone guest book was provided at the reception for guests to share advice for the couple. — Latoya Gayle, PEOPLE, 8 June 2026 Ultimately, the team identified the Heaven Sword the old-fashioned way — by scaling the massive tree and dropping a tape measure from the top, according to a study published Friday in the journal Frontiers in Forests and Global Change. — Ashley Strickland, CNN Money, 5 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for old-fashioned
Recent Examples of Synonyms for old-fashioned
  1. vintage
  2. traditional
  3. antique
  4. conservative
  5. retro
  6. orthodox
  7. antiquated
  8. historical
Adjective
  • There's a game room with vintage arcade games and a pool table, a kids room package with a tent and foam twin mattress, a dog-friendly pet package, and a nightly s'mores hour.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 25 Sep. 2026
  • The band’s brilliant but troubled producer, Martin Hannett, was far more interested in making guitars sound like machinery or a swarm of hornets than, say, a vintage Telecaster.
    — Jem Aswad, Variety, 25 Sep. 2026
Definition of vintage
Adjective
  • This blacklight flashlight uses a 395nm wavelength to detect what the naked eye—or a traditional flashlight—cannot.
    — Aly Walansky, Travel + Leisure, 22 Sep. 2026
  • In traditional Han folklore, the baiji was the Goddess of the Yangtze.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 22 Sep. 2026
Definition of traditional
Adjective
  • With navy walls, dark-wood bookshelves and antique furniture, plaid skirts and collared jackets feel like the suitable attire — though there’s no dress code.
    — Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 21 Sep. 2026
  • After operating as a church, it was later used as a theater and an antique market before being converted into a hotel, according to the release.
    — Kelly McGreal, FOXNews.com, 20 Sep. 2026
Definition of antique
Adjective
  • The article went viral, garnering pushback from the LGBT community over how it was covered and more attention to the LGBT bar itself from conservative pundits, who questioned why the bar still had a mask mandate.
    — Molly Parks, The Washington Examiner, 25 Sep. 2026
  • The channel has become a centerpiece of SiriusXM’s talk strategy, which includes conservative talk through the Patriot Channel, liberal talk through the Progress Channel.
    — Alex Weprin, HollywoodReporter, 24 Sep. 2026
Definition of conservative
Adjective
  • After Christopher Kane’s Mulberry debut on Sunday afternoon, the retro-futuristic central room in the Queen Elizabeth II Centre in London resounded with whoops and applause, and a whole section of the audience gave a standing ovation.
    — Lucy Maguire, Vogue, 21 Sep. 2026
  • The retro packaging rollout will begin on September 28 and will continue into 2027.
    — Melissa Locker, Southern Living, 21 Sep. 2026
Definition of retro
Adjective
  • Garcia’s comes from standing up straight in his orthodox stance but is driven by his back leg, which propels him forward.
    — Chris McKenna, New York Times, 11 Sep. 2026
  • King’s indifference to orthodox formats enables formal mischief.
    — Laura Preston, New Yorker, 30 Aug. 2026
Definition of orthodox
Adjective
  • Arnold Roma became one of the most persistent voices behind an effort to resurrect Fire Patrol, arguing that New York had lost more than an antiquated insurance service.
    — Danya Gainor, CNN Money, 11 Sep. 2026
  • Costco online cake ordering updates antiquated system The online cake ordering feature was first revealed to be on the way by Costco CEO Ron Vachris in the company's quarterly earnings call in December 2025.
    — Gabe Hauari, USA Today, 26 Aug. 2026
Definition of antiquated
Adjective
  • As the name reflected, the museum contained duelling missions from the start, showcasing American technological advances and telling a more general historical story.
    — Alec MacGillis, ProPublica, 24 Sep. 2026
  • Artists from various musical genres are coming together to take part in a new music project inspired by the series The Chosen, a historical drama based on the life and ministry of Jesus.
    — Jessica Nicholson, Billboard, 24 Sep. 2026
Definition of historical

Browse Nearby Words

oldfangled
old-fashioned
old-fashionedness
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Old-fashioned.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/old-fashioned. Accessed 26 Sep. 2026.

Copy Citation
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

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of confabulate

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

Do You Need a New Language Peeve?

More Commonly Mispronounced Words

Why do we use apostrophes to show possession?

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Back to School Vocabulary

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Words of the Week - Sept. 25
See More

Popular

See More

Do You Need a New Language Peeve?

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
image of the words cracker fly and sale arranged in a triangle with the word fire in the middle
Triple Play Quiz Find the word that pairs with each of the three g...
See All