archaic

American  

[ahr-kay-ik] / ɑrˈkeɪ ɪk /

adjective

1. marked by the characteristics of an earlier period; antiquated.

   an archaic manner; an archaic notion.

2. (of a linguistic form) commonly used in an earlier time but rare in present-day usage except to suggest the older time, as in religious rituals or historical novels. Examples.

   thou; wast; methinks; forsooth.

3. forming the earliest stage; prior to full development.

   the archaic period of psychoanalytic research.

4. (often initial capital letter) pertaining to or designating the style of the fine arts, especially painting and sculpture, developed in Greece from the middle 7th to the early 5th century b.c., chiefly characterized by an increased emphasis on the human figure in action, naturalistic proportions and anatomical structure, simplicity of volumes, forms, or design, and the evolution of a definitive style for the narrative treatment of subject matter.

5. primitive; ancient; old.

   an archaic form of animal life.

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archaic British  

/ ɑːˈkeɪɪk /

adjective

1. belonging to or characteristic of a much earlier period; ancient

2. out of date; antiquated

   an archaic prison system

3. (of idiom, vocabulary, etc) characteristic of an earlier period of a language and not in ordinary use

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Usage

Archaic is used as a label in this dictionary for terms and definitions that were current roughly as late as 1900 but are now employed only as conscious archaisms, as described and exemplified in definition 2 above. An archaic term is generally more recognizable, as when encountered in literature, than one labeled Obsolete.

Other Word Forms

• pseudoarchaic
  adjective
• archaically
  adverb
• pseudoarchaically
  adverb

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Etymology

Origin of archaic

First recorded in 1825–35; from French archaïque, or directly from Greek archaïkós “antiquated, old-fashioned,” equivalent to archaî(os) “old” + -ikos adjective suffix; see origin at -ic

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Explanation

If you use the adjective archaic you are referring to something outmoded, belonging to an earlier period. Rotary phones and cassette players already seem so archaic! The adjective archaic means something that belongs to an earlier or antiquated time. It can also mean something that is outdated but can still be found in the present and therefore could seem out of place. The word comes from archaic (i.e., ancient) Greek, archaikos, and literally means "from Classical Greek culture," though its meaning has broadened as it's been used in English.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

archaic

This same discrepancy has made the journalism thriller itself feel somewhat archaic.

From Salon ● Oct. 11, 2026

It’s the archaic act of tyrannical monarchies, staged in the shadow of a looming tower or in the town square.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 10, 2026

Earl Spencer talks about how little he cares for "archaic" titles for the aristocracy or royals.

From BBC ● Sep. 21, 2026

Earlier studies had found signs that Homo sapiens mixed with archaic humans beyond Neanderthals and Denisovans.

From Science Daily ● Aug. 1, 2026

Bishop Colenso, whose views on everything were considered unsound that day and are archaic in this, was the little dean’s particular pet.

From "Go Set a Watchman: A Novel" by Harper Lee

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Related Words

• ancient
• antiquated
• obsolete
• old-fashioned
• outmoded
• primitive

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