1
: adhering to traditional policies or practices
an old-school coach
2
: characteristic or evocative of an earlier or original style, manner, or form
old-school music
: adherents of traditional policies and practices
Examples of old-school in a Sentence
Adjective
an old-school romantic comedy in which the two leads don't jump into bed at the first opportunity
an old-school gentleman who opened doors and pulled out chairs for women
Recent Examples on the Web
Kevin Huynh, InStyle, 11 Jan. 2026
Red velvet, dark wood accents, and walls lined with caricatures of Washington’s political elite—past and present—set the stage for a memorable experience, one that feels equal parts old-school power lounge and playful take on the city’s history.
—Kait Hanson, Southern Living, 11 Jan. 2026
In 2011, the two collaborated on Snoop’s Puff Puff Pass Tuesdays mixtape, and in 2021, Skee memorably traded a Kobe Bryant rookie card for one of Snoop’s cars, an old-school silver Cutlass.
—Dana O’Neil, CNN Money, 11 Jan. 2026
Ask for jobs in-person Leonard recommends going back to old-school tactics to secure jobs, rather than sitting behind a screen and sending off an endless number of CVs that will eventually be rejected by AI.
—Sawdah Bhaimiya, CNBC, 10 Jan. 2026
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Adjective
The Heated Rivalry actor channeled old-school Hollywood cool in an Armani white tuxedo jacket paired with a silk button-down shirt and cummerbund, along with black trousers.
—Cite this Entry
“Old-school.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/old-school. Accessed 13 Jan. 2026.
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