Archaic: meaning, definitions and examples

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archaic

 

[ หˆษ‘หrkeษชษชk ]

Adjective / Noun
Context #1 | Adjective

old-fashioned

Archaic refers to something very old or outdated, often associated with a particular historical period. It can also describe a style of language or writing that is no longer in common use.

Synonyms

ancient, antiquated, obsolete, outdated.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

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Word Description / Examples
archaic

Used when referring to something that belongs to an earlier time and is no longer in general use. Often carries a formal or historical tone.

  • The language in that document is quite archaic and hard to understand
  • The museum displayed archaic tools from ancient civilizations
antiquated

Refers to something outdated or old-fashioned, often implying that it is no longer useful or relevant. Can have a mildly negative connotation.

  • His views on gender roles are quite antiquated
  • This technology is so antiquated that it's hard to find replacement parts
obsolete

Describes something that is no longer in use or has been replaced by something newer and more effective. Often used in a technical or professional context.

  • The floppy disk has become obsolete with the advent of USB drives
  • Many old computer programs have become obsolete and are no longer supported
outdated

Used to indicate that something is old and no longer in line with modern standards or practices. It implies that an update or change is needed.

  • The software is outdated and needs an update to work properly
  • Fashion trends change quickly, and what was popular last year might be considered outdated now
ancient

Used when describing something extremely old, often from a distant past or early period in history. Usually used in a neutral or positive tone.

  • The ancient ruins of the city are a popular tourist attraction
  • They studied texts written in ancient Greek

Examples of usage

  • His archaic beliefs were no longer relevant in the modern world.
  • The archaic language used in the text was difficult to understand.
  • The archaic customs of the tribe fascinated anthropologists.
  • The archaic architecture of the building was preserved for historical significance.
Context #2 | Noun

archaism

Archaic can also be used as a noun to refer to something that is old-fashioned or no longer in common use. It can be a word, phrase, or style of language that is considered outdated.

Synonyms

antiquity, relic, vestige.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

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Word Description / Examples
archaic

Describes something very old or old-fashioned, often used to refer to language, customs, or objects that are no longer in use today.

  • The museum had an exhibit of archaic tools from the Bronze Age.
  • Her speech was filled with archaic words that no one understood.
antiquity

Refers to the ancient past or the period before the Middle Ages. Often used to discuss ancient civilizations or historical periods.

  • Artifacts from antiquity reveal much about the lives of early civilizations.
  • The philosopher's works have been studied since antiquity.
relic

Usually denotes an object surviving from an earlier time, and often has sentimental, historical, or religious significance.

  • The cathedral houses many important relics from the medieval period.
  • He kept his grandfather's watch as a cherished relic of his family's history.
vestige

Indicates a trace or remnant of something that is disappearing or no longer exists. Often used in a more metaphorical sense.

  • The old factory was a vestige of the town's industrial past.
  • There was not a vestige of fear in her eyes.

Examples of usage

  • The use of archaic words in the poem gave it a sense of nostalgia.
  • She enjoyed studying archaisms in old literature.
  • His speech was filled with archaic expressions that confused the audience.

Translations

Translations of the word "archaic" in other languages:

๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡น arcaico

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ณ เคชเฅเคฐเคพเคšเฅ€เคจ

๐Ÿ‡ฉ๐Ÿ‡ช archaisch

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ฉ kuno

๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ฆ ะฐั€ั…ะฐั—ั‡ะฝะธะน

๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡ฑ archaiczny

๐Ÿ‡ฏ๐Ÿ‡ต ๅค้ขจใช

๐Ÿ‡ซ๐Ÿ‡ท archaรฏque

๐Ÿ‡ช๐Ÿ‡ธ arcaico

๐Ÿ‡น๐Ÿ‡ท arkaik

๐Ÿ‡ฐ๐Ÿ‡ท ๊ณ ํ’์Šค๋Ÿฌ์šด

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฆ ุนุชูŠู‚

๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ฟ archaickรฝ

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฐ archaickรฝ

๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ณ ๅค่€็š„

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฎ arhaiฤen

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ธ forn

๐Ÿ‡ฐ๐Ÿ‡ฟ ะบำฉะฝะต

๐Ÿ‡ฌ๐Ÿ‡ช แƒแƒ แƒฅแƒแƒฃแƒšแƒ˜

๐Ÿ‡ฆ๐Ÿ‡ฟ qษ™dim

๐Ÿ‡ฒ๐Ÿ‡ฝ arcaico

Etymology

The word 'archaic' originated from the Greek word 'archaรฏkos', meaning ancient or old. It has been used in English since the late 18th century to describe things that are outdated or belong to a bygone era. Over time, 'archaic' has come to be associated with anything old-fashioned or no longer in common use.

Word Frequency Rank

Ranked #12,175, this word falls into high-advanced vocabulary. It appears less frequently but is valuable for expressing precise meanings in specific contexts.