What does "old-fashioned" mean?
A cocktail made by muddling sugar with bitters and adding whiskey or, less commonly, brandy, served with a twist of citrus rind.
Old-fashioned
/oʊldˈfæʃənd/ adj, noun
adj, noun ·Common ·High school level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: A cocktail made by muddling sugar with bitters and adding whiskey or, less commonly, brandy, served with a twist of citrus rind.
- Grammar: old-fashioned is listed as adj, noun.
- Nearest alternatives: antique, abandoned, abjured, age old.
- Useful contrasts: new-fashioned, newfangled, contemporary.
- Usage evidence: The lady persisted in wearing such an old-fashioned shirt.
How to use "old-fashioned"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "old-fashioned" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "old-fashioned" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "old-fashioned" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "old-fashioned" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "old-fashioned" is acting as adj, noun in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "antique" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
Review note: Definition pages are checked for source coverage, sentence evidence, synonym support, and editorial insight before they are treated as approval-ready pages. If the evidence is too thin, the page remains available to users but is kept out of the approval-facing indexed inventory.
Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "old-fashioned", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 A cocktail made by muddling sugar with bitters and adding whiskey or, less commonly, brandy, served with a twist of citrus rind.
"Old John was mixing Old Fashioneds and every now and then he would turn and stare at the record case with an expression of great loathing."
- 2 A type of doughnut with a cakelike consistency and a rough surface, usually made with cultured buttermilk and chemical leaven and fried at a lower temperature.
Adjective
- 1 Of an object, outdated or no longer in vogue.
"My bike is old-fashioned but it gets me around."
- 2 Of a person, preferring the customs of earlier times and the old-style ways.
"You can’t stay the night, because my parents are a bit old-fashioned."
Adjective
- 1 out of fashion wordnet
Synonyms
All synonymsAntonyms
Example
"The lady persisted in wearing such an old-fashioned shirt."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "old-fashioned"?
Common synonyms include: antique, abandoned, abjured, age old, aged, analog traditionalist.
How do you use "old-fashioned" in a sentence?
The lady persisted in wearing such an old-fashioned shirt.
How do you pronounce "old-fashioned"?
Pronounced /oʊldˈfæʃənd/.
Etymology
From old + fashioned. The cocktail (which goes back to at least the early 1800s) got its name in the late 1800s as more complicated cocktails became common and those who preferred simpler drinks began asking for old-fashioned cocktails.