anachronistic
Americanadjective
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of anachronistic
First recorded in 1765–75; anachron(ism) + -istic
Explanation
Something that's old-fashioned and maybe a little out of place is anachronistic, like a clunky black rotary-dial telephone sitting on a desk beside a sleek new smart-phone (or whatever the new technology is when you read this). The adjective anachronistic comes from the Greek words ana, or "against", and khronos, or "time." It usually refers to something old-fashioned or antique, but it can also mean anything that blatantly clashes with the time in which it is seen. Imagine watching a movie that takes place in the 1700s and seeing one of the characters pull out a cell phone. Any phone, in the context of the movie's time period, would be anachronistic.
Vocabulary lists containing anachronistic
100 Top "SAT" Words
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300 Most Difficult "SAT" Words
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It's About Time: Chron and Temp
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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.
A more substantive critique is that by emphasizing Odysseus’ feelings of guilt rather than his simple fealty to the gods, Mr. Nolan imposes an anachronistic Christian morality on the ancient world.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 27, 2026
Veda’s evil can also feel anachronistic, especially in today’s world of nepo-baby jokes, “immigrants get it done!” and reverence of rags-to-riches stories.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 29, 2026
"Some officials in the United States still have yet to awaken from their escapist and anachronistic dream," she said.
From Barron's ● Jun. 7, 2026
“The Other Bennet Sister” represents Bruccoleri’s first major role where she’s leading the action instead of hugging a wall, unvarnished by cosmetics or anachronistic needle drops hinting at some hidden reserve of chic.
From Salon ● May 20, 2026
On January 4, 1993, this writer received an unusual letter, penned in a shaky, anachronistic script that suggested an elderly author.
From "Into the Wild" by Jon Krakauer
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
