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
Dovetail Brewery Focusing exclusively on Continental European styles like their smooth and coppery Vienna Lager, Dovetail has an old-school, pretzels-and-sausage vibe. Midwest Living, 1 July 2026 Thankfully, the rest of the attraction serves as a reminder that no computer wizardry can out-class old-school theater. Todd Martens, Los Angeles Times, 30 June 2026 As far as we're concerned, this old-school cold salad pairs well at any cookout. Patricia S York, Southern Living, 27 June 2026 Directed by Pedro Artola and filmed in New York City, the visual finds Becky boxing and training hard in an old-school gym. Maya Georgi, Rolling Stone, 26 June 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 5 Jul. 2026.

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