English Reference
adjective

outdated

adj.
US /ˈaʊtˌdeɪtɪd/ UK /aʊtdˈeɪtɪd/ out·dat·ed

  1. 01 B2 Upper Intermediate

    no longer useful or modern because it is old or has been replaced by something better.

    no longer current, valid, or functional due to being superseded by newer developments or standards.

    Simple

    The school's computers are so outdated that they cannot run the new software.

    In context

    The company struggled to remain competitive while relying on outdated manufacturing techniques that its rivals had abandoned years ago.

    Usage

    often used to describe technology, laws, or social attitudes.

    Teacher's tip

    While 'old' is neutral, 'outdated' usually implies that the thing is now less effective or incorrect because of its age.

    obsoleteold fashionedantiquated
    moderncurrentup to date

But the solution is not to deny people the option to work remotely but instead to change outdated gender norms.

Phys.org· 18 Aug 2026

She is also incredibly rude to young true crime podcaster Andi (Amalia Williamson), who comes to her book signing, because she knows Andi has called her work “outdated and inaccurate”.

The Guardian· 21 Aug 2026

From outdate + -ed.

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

This entry
Level B2 · Upper Intermediate
Frequency Frequent
Updated