outdated
Americanadjective
adjective
Etymology
Origin of outdated
Explanation
Anything that's so old-fashioned that it's unstylish or not useful is outdated. You might love the way an antique car looks, but its outdated safety standards (no seat belts or airbags) make it dangerous to drive on the highway. The 70s bell-bottom jeans your aunt still wears might be embarrassingly outdated, but at least they function as pants. Your outdated computer, on the other hand, isn't even capable of getting online or connecting to your printer — in other words, it's obsolete, or completely useless. This adjective dates from the early 1600s, from the "mark as old fashioned" meaning of the verb date.
Vocabulary lists containing outdated
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Part 1 Vocabulary (Unit 5)
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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.
Advisers today consider this guideline outdated and oversimplified because it relies on static assumptions that don’t reflect modern retirement realities such as longer life expectancies, unexpected healthcare expenses and market downturns.
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 29, 2026
"The time has come for a decisive break from outdated practices," he said.
From BBC ● Jul. 20, 2026
The rule “restores integrity to the nation’s immigration system,” Homeland Security said in a statement, calling the previous “duration of status” policy outdated.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 17, 2026
They have started inspections, leading to fines and closures of some premises that offer invasive procedures without proper permits or with outdated products.
From Barron's ● Jul. 17, 2026
But the famous punk-protector system of popular lore seems to be outdated or exaggerated.
From "Newjack: Guarding Sing Sing" by Ted Conover
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.
