old-school

1 of 2

adjective

ˈōl(d)-ˌskül How to pronounce old-school (audio)
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

Synonyms of old-school

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Adjective

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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
Developed by Doyoung-Tom Kim, a former research and development analyst for the Philadelphia Phillies, Open Command actually uses an old-school framework to better capture the ability of pitchers to command their pitches. — Eno Sarris, New York Times, 4 Sep. 2026 Most notably, there’s the Eden Roc Sea Bass and the wonderfully old-school Steak Diane, which also appears on the menu at Eden-Roc Restaurant in France. — Lilah Ramzi, Vogue, 4 Sep. 2026 Where the vehicle’s wow factor can be assumed to lie is in its old-school drive dynamics. — Viju Mathew, Robb Report, 4 Sep. 2026 But if the building appears to predict a series of high-tech galleries, tricked out with holograms, audio spotlights or mixed reality rooms, the Lucas museum is surprisingly old-school. — Culture Critic, Los Angeles Times, 2 Sep. 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

Rhymes for old-school

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Browse Nearby Words

Old Scandinavian
old-school
old school
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Cite this Entry

“Old-school.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/old-school. Accessed 7 Sep. 2026.

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