old school

ADJECTIVE

traditional

Synonyms

WEAK

acceptable accustomed classic classical conservative conventional customary habitual long-established old old line popular regular rooted time-honored

NOUN

earliest way of doing things

Synonyms

WEAK

backward-looking conforming conservative earlier generation leftovers old line old-fashioned past traditional unprogressive

old-school

ADJECTIVE

traditional

Synonyms

WEAK

acceptable accustomed backward-looking classic classical conforming conservative conventional customary habitual long-established old guard old-fashioned old-line popular regular rooted time-honored traditional unprogressive

NOUN

supporters of established custom or of conservatism

Synonyms

WEAK

conservative earlier generation old guard

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

“If you want old school software that actually doesn’t work, and probably will disappear, there are a lot of names.”

From Barron's • May 6, 2026

I have been married over 40 years, and we are old school.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 30, 2026

Macofsky adds, “It feels very old school the way women have to go through things.”

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 22, 2026

It was, undeniably, an "old school cup tie" - one which both managers agreed provided "a bit of a throwback".

From BBC • Feb. 15, 2026

If you have a little time and feel like writing to an old school chum, send me a letter, please.

From "Lucky Broken Girl" by Ruth Behar