What does "olds" mean?
A car of this make: an Oldsmobile.
Olds
name, noun, slang
name, noun, slang ·1 syllable ·Moderate ·College level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: A car of this make: an Oldsmobile.
- Grammar: olds is listed as name, noun, slang.
- Nearest alternatives: abandoned, abjured, adult, advanced.
- Usage evidence: As is often the case with 13 to 19 year olds, she fell in love.
How to use "olds"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "olds" 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 "olds" 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 "olds" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "olds" 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 "olds" is acting as name, noun, slang 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 "abandoned" 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 "olds", 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 car of this make: an Oldsmobile. informal
"Y.T. detaches from the Acura she's been hitched to for the last half mile, swings it over to Jason's fat Olds."
- 2 One's parents. UK, plural, plural-normally, slang
- 3 Information that is no longer new. humorous, uncountable
- 4 Anyone portrayed in the context as not young; for example, anyone older than the speaker's audience of coevals; often, middle-aged adults or older adults. humorous, often, plural, plural-normally, slang
"Her friends at school snicker at how the olds are clueless about TikTok trends. But they can't shame us olds about it very effectively, because we're old enough to know that today's trends too shall pass."
Proper Noun
- 1 A surname.
- 2 Oldsmobile, a brand of car by GM. informal
- 3 plural of Old form-of, plural
- 4 A town in Alberta, Canada.
- 5 A city in Iowa.
Synonyms
All synonymsExample
"As is often the case with 13 to 19 year olds, she fell in love."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "olds"?
Common synonyms include: abandoned, abjured, adult, advanced, advanced in life, advanced in years.
How do you use "olds" in a sentence?
As is often the case with 13 to 19 year olds, she fell in love.
Etymology
Etymology 1
From old + -s; compare old folks, old man.
Etymology 2
Coined as a humorous opposite to news.