Word
anachronistic
Phoneticsanachro·nis·tic
US/əˌnækɹəˈnɪstɪk/
UK/ˌænɐkɹənˈɪstɪk/
Definition
adj. describing something that belongs to a different time than the one it is in. It is often used when an object or idea feels out of place in its current setting.
adj. belonging to a different period of time than the one in which it is found or used. Often describes objects, ideas, or styles that appear outdated or historically inaccurate in a modern context.
Examples
“The old wooden telephone looked anachronistic in the modern office.”
“The director's decision to include a modern electric guitar in the medieval film was criticized as anachronistic and distracting.”
“While the protagonist's use of a pocket watch is technically accurate for the era, the film's reliance on digital effects makes the entire aesthetic feel anachronistic to a modern audience.”
Examples
simple
“The old wooden telephone looked anachronistic in the modern office.”
contextual
“The director's decision to include a modern electric guitar in the medieval film was criticized as anachronistic and distracting.”
complex
“While the protagonist's use of a pocket watch is technically accurate for the era, the film's reliance on digital effects makes the entire aesthetic feel anachronistic to a modern audience.”
Real-World Examples
“First, the Donation of Constantine includes anachronistic terms that would not have been used in the fourth century.” Etymology
From anachronism + -ic.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Scan code
englishreference.com/q/anachronistic