old-school

1 of 2

adjective

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
Adjective
But this isn’t just another shaggy-dog hangout movie, showcasing Pine’s appreciation for classic movies, beloved actors, old-school L.A. restaurants, short shorts and silly hats. Katie Walsh, Los Angeles Times, 9 May 2024 Their voices join in an ocean of crooning, wailing and belting that swells nightly from dance floors in places like the old-school Mel-O-Dee Cocktails in El Cerrito, Effie’s in Campbell, the Mint in San Francisco and dozens of celebrated others. John Metcalfe, The Mercury News, 6 May 2024 An old-school stakeout On a quiet, warm February morning on Ferguson Road in East Dallas, the last police officers are moving into position. Riley Robinson, The Christian Science Monitor, 6 May 2024 Racing Miami’s doing steady business selling F1 team merchandise (old-school McLaren t-shirts for $40, Red Bull pullovers for $200) and Alpine Racing having a show car from 2020, a driving simulator and a merchandise stand. David J. Neal, Miami Herald, 3 May 2024 Here are the runners up for America’s best theme park this year: Second place: Knoebels Amusement Resort, an old-school park in Elysburg, Pennsylvania that’s free to enter — guests pay for tickets to access each ride. Natalie Wallington, Kansas City Star, 2 May 2024 Unlike many laser printers today, which ship with the toner cartridge already installed, Brother uses the old-school approach of packing the toner separately in the box and already mounted on the drum unit. PCMAG, 30 Apr. 2024 But the best shops set themselves apart with fresh ingredients and old-school charm. Yaniya Lee, New York Times, 26 Apr. 2024 Stylistically, the show has stuck with this idea to an extent, primarily through its old-school needle drops. Nina Metz Chicago Tribune, Twin Cities, 26 Apr. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'old-school.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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

Dictionary Entries Near old-school

Cite this Entry

“Old-school.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/old-school. Accessed 15 May. 2024.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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