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Definitions

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.

"There's another wave of country artists that are coming that is really into doing it the old school way and showing emotion," she said.

From Barron's • Apr. 7, 2026

Giardina’s prescription, and that of many other liberals and progressives in the region, is straightforward — and old school.

From Salon • Feb. 19, 2026

For dinner, I went old school at À La Renaissance, a century-old, recently revived bistro with chunky terrazzo floors and burgundy banquettes.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 14, 2026

My younger brother is like, “Hey, man, I just went in for a test, and they’re telling me I got to have an old school triple bypass,” and then that’s what we all get tested.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 13, 2026

The teachers and children here were not as brutalized as in the old school.

From "A Tree Grows in Brooklyn" by Betty Smith