passe

¹

[pahs]

noun

French.

1. the numbers 19 through 36 in roulette.

passé

²

[pa-sey, pah-sey]

adjective

1. no longer fashionable, in wide use, etc.; out-of-date; outmoded.

   There were many photographs of passé fashions. I thought hand-cranked pencil sharpeners were passé.

   Synonyms: quaint, démodé, old-fashioned

2. past.

   time passé.

3. past the prime of one's life.

noun

plural

passés 

1. Ballet.,  a movement in which one leg passes behind or in front of the other.

passé

/ ˈpɑseɪ, pɑse, ˈpɑːseɪ /

adjective

1. out-of-date

   passé ideas

2. past the prime; faded

   a passé society beauty

Word History and Origins

Origin of passe¹

Literally, “passing, pass”

Origin of passe²

1765–75; < French, past participle of passer to pass

Word History and Origins

Origin of passe¹

C18: from French, past participle of passer to _pass

Example Sentences

The arm positions for Mr. Louis and Ms. Chapa passingly resemble archers’ bows or crescent moons.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

It appears that investors only have passingly paid attention to my letters, and many have been clinging to various rumors and hearsay in place of analysis or original thought.

Read more on Literature

But these days, many of the traditional Olympic sports are beginning to feel passe to a younger generation.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

“How many have laughed at the church, announcing that she was passe, that her days were over and that they would bury her?” he said in a 2021 Mass.

Read more on Seattle Times

It’s a snappy, gutsy comedy about how kids are spoiled and ignorant, and yet the adult workplace is only passingly more mature.

Read more on New York Times

Related Words

• corny 
• obsolete 
• odd 
• outdated 
• outmoded 
• unfashionable