outdated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Origin of outdated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Anything that's so old-fashioned that it's unstylish or not useful is outdated. You might love the way an antique car looks, but its outdated safety standards (no seat belts or airbags) make it dangerous to drive on the highway. The 70s bell-bottom jeans your aunt still wears might be embarrassingly outdated, but at least they function as pants. Your outdated computer, on the other hand, isn't even capable of getting online or connecting to your printer — in other words, it's obsolete, or completely useless.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Vocabulary lists containing outdated
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"Notable Southerners: Althea Gibson"
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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.
When professionalism is subjective, adopting what might seem like outdated norms is probably the smarter move.
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 21, 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nation’s immigration system,” Homeland Security said in a statement, calling the previous “duration of status” policy outdated.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leading to fines and closures of some premises that offer invasive procedures without proper permits or with outdated products.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
Month-long winter breaks and three-month summer vacations are outdated customs based on historical agrarian calendars.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 16, 2026
She smiled, The people at seal camp had not been as outdated and old-fashioned as she had been led to believe.
From "Julie of the Wolves" by Jean Craighead George
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.
