old-time

American  

[ohld-tahym] / ˈoʊldˈtaɪm /

adjective

1. belonging to or characteristic of old or former times, methods, ideas, etc..

   old-time sailing ships; an old-time piano player.

2. being long established.

   old-time residents.

---

old-time British  

adjective

1. (prenominal) of or relating to a former time; old-fashioned

   old-time dancing

---

Etymology

Origin of old-time

First recorded in 1815–25

Example Sentences

Francis, 48, says some of the old-time shoemakers have given up trying to create footwear from scratch, and now just fix the mass-produced shoes that have put them out of business.

From Barron's • Oct. 26, 2025

Ms. Lakshmi serves it on a bed of traditional Southern cheesy grits and suggests chowchow pickles, an old-time relish, as a side.

From The Wall Street Journal • Oct. 10, 2025

Around here, we enjoy a good story about an old-time guy preserved in a bog.

From Slate • Jul. 26, 2025

It's an album of stunning poetic clarity and emotion – typified by the title track, an old-time country-rock ballad inspired by her love of detective novels.

From BBC • Apr. 27, 2025

So I ended up just carrying him over my shoulder, like men always carry their wives in the old-time movies when they first get married.

From "When I Was the Greatest" by Jason Reynolds

Related Words

• old-fashioned