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

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

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.

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

From Salon • Feb. 19, 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

When Gisele just wants to just be a 20-year-old, she focuses on her favorite hobbies, such as cooking and spending time with friends from her old school, Harvard-Westlake.

From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 25, 2026

The “aspirational vision of masculinity” Mr. Galloway offers is old school, centered around reviving men’s capacity to protect, provide and procreate.

From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 9, 2025

There was no button for “cherry bomb,” which is what the teachers invested a lot of energy preparing for at my old school.

From "Ungifted" by Gordon Korman

old-school

Example Sentences

Related Words