old school
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old school¹
- /ˈəʊl(d)skuːl/ UK
- /ˈoʊl(d)ˌskul/ US
Where it comes from
The noun is derived from old + school (“followers of a particular doctrine; particular doctrine or way of thinking”), probably a shortening of old school of thinking, old school of thought, or some similar phrase.
The adjective is derived from the attributive form of the noun.
noun
-
Preceded by the: a group of people characterized by being conservative or traditional; also, a method for accomplishing a task, a style, or a way of thinking that was employed in a former era, remembered either for its inferiority to the current method, or for its superiority over the new way.
Family experts are advocating a change away from the old school, advising parents not to medicate behavioural problems.
Opposite: new school
- A style of popular music regarded as more old-fashioned or traditional, or not following newer trends; specifically (often old skool), hip-hop or rap music of the late 1970s and 1980s (or more recent music of this style) as contrasted with newer styles of such music. Rap is not one particular thing. Just like there are many different types of music, there are different types of rap. Hardcore, like Ice Cube, or OldSchool, like the Sugarhill Gang, are two facets on the gem we call hip hop.
adjective more old school · most old school · oldschool · old-school · Old School · oldskool
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Now often old-school: characteristic of a method for accomplishing a task, a style, or a way of thinking that was employed in a former era, remembered either for its inferiority to the current method, or for its superiority over the new way.
That teacher’s old-school methods aren’t effective. They’re just annoying.
Similar: OG, outdated, out of date, out of fashion, anachronistic, antediluvial, antediluvian, antiquated, antique, prehistoric, archaic, backward · Opposite: new school, new-school
-
Of or relating to a style of popular music regarded as more old-fashioned or traditional, or not following newer trends; specifically (often old skool), of or relating to hip-hop or rap music of the late 1970s and 1980s (or more recent music of this style) as contrasted with newer styles of such music.
Also look out for a PHAT PHAT oldskool style tune on Jemini [the Gifted One]'s album set to drop in the next couple of weeks. It uses the Love Unlimited 'Strange Games and Things' break, and comes on with the old skool rhymes believe …
Opposite: new school, new-school, newskool, new skool, nu skool
- Chiefly in the form Old School: having conservative or traditional views on Christianity or politics. Local politicians assume various appellations, such as New School and Old School Democrats, Snyderites, Clintonians, and many others, mostly derived from the name or principles of some popular demagogue.
Old School²
adjective
- Alternative letter-case form of old school (“having conservative or traditional views on Christianity or politics”). Local politicians assume various appellations, such as New School and Old School Democrats, Snyderites, Clintonians, and many others, mostly derived from the name or principles of some popular demagogue.
Translations
Every language
noun group of people characterized by being conservative or traditional; method for accomplishing a task, a style, or a way of thinking that was employed in a former
| Español | vieja escuela |
|---|---|
| Français | ancienne école, vieille école |
| Deutsch | alte Schule |
| Italiano | vecchia scuola |
| Русский | ста́рая шко́ла stáraja škóla |
adj characteristic of a method for accomplishing a task, a style, or a way of thinking that was employed in a former era
| Español | de vieja escuela, pasadista, a la antigua, chapado a la antigua, de la vieja escuela |
|---|---|
| 中文 | 過氣 /过气 guòqì, 老派 lǎopài |
| Français | à l’ancienne, vieille école, vieux jeu |
| Deutsch | oldschool |
Talk about this word "old school." Wiktionary, via Micwyn, micwyn.com/word/old%20school. Accessed 6 Nov. 2026. old school. (n.d.). In Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Retrieved November 6, 2026, from https://micwyn.com/word/old%20school "old school." Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Accessed November 6, 2026. https://micwyn.com/word/old%20school.Cite this
@misc{old_school_2026,
title = {old school},
howpublished = {Wiktionary, via Micwyn},
year = {2026},
url = {https://micwyn.com/word/old%20school},
urldate = {2026-11-06}
}
