outdated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Origin of outdated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Anything that's so old-fashioned that it's unstylish or not useful is outdated. You might love the way an antique car looks, but its outdated safety standards (no seat belts or airbags) make it dangerous to drive on the highway. The 70s bell-bottom jeans your aunt still wears might be embarrassingly outdated, but at least they function as pants. Your outdated computer, on the other hand, isn't even capable of getting online or connecting to your printer — in other words, it's obsolete, or completely useless.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Vocabulary lists containing outdated
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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.
Other outdated myths about creatine: “People used to believe creatine caused dehydration and cramps, but it doesn’t seem to,” Zaslow says.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 19, 2026
It is maintaining these outdated financial thresholds while broadening the definition of an accredited investor to include anyone holding specific finance-related credentials, like a CPA or a CFA, regardless of their financial resources.
From MarketWatch ● Oct. 13, 2026
The train system is "old and creaky and it's outdated," he admitted.
From Barron's ● Oct. 11, 2026
Since then, AI has passed bar exams and medical licensing exams, which says more about these outdated tests than the inadequacy of humans, perhaps a sign of an antiquated education system.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 4, 2026
But the famous punk-protector system of popular lore seems to be outdated or exaggerated.
From "Newjack: Guarding Sing Sing" by Ted Conover
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Get a wordDefinitions 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.
