adjective

archaic

/ɑrˈkeɪ.ɪk/ · say it: ar·KAY·ik

very old or old-fashioned

In Describing & Comparing

In more detail

1. (adjective) very old or belonging to an earlier period of history

2. (adjective) no longer used; old-fashioned

Examples

1. Archaeologists discovered archaic pottery from thousands of years ago.
2. The word 'thou' is archaic and not used in modern English.

How to use archaic

Archaic describes things from a distant past or no longer in current use, often with scholarly or historical connotations. It differs from obsolete in that archaic things may still be understood or appreciated (like Shakespearean language), whereas obsolete things are completely out of use. The term is commonly applied to language, customs, and beliefs.

Common phrases

archaic language
archaic terms
archaic words
archaic spelling
archaic practice

Synonyms

ancient · obsolete · outdated · old-fashioned · antiquated

Opposites

modern · contemporary · current

Word family

archaism (noun) · archaically (adverb)

A common mistake

Learners sometimes use archaic to mean simply old or antique, but it specifically implies something is outdated or belonging to earlier historical periods rather than just being old in age.

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