# outdated

/ˈaʊtˌdeɪtɪd/ (US) · /aʊtdˈeɪtɪd/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/outdated
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. old-fashioned or obsolete

adjective · CEFR B2

no longer useful or modern because it is old or has been replaced by something better.

For teachers: no longer current, valid, or functional due to being superseded by newer developments or standards.

- The school's computers are so outdated that they cannot run the new software.
- The company struggled to remain competitive while relying on outdated manufacturing techniques that its rivals had abandoned years ago.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.

Teaching tip: While 'old' is neutral, 'outdated' usually implies that the thing is now less effective or incorrect because of its age.

## Examples

- That old computer software is completely outdated.
- The company struggled to compete because its manufacturing equipment was outdated and inefficient.
- While the theory was revolutionary in the nineteenth century, modern genetic research has rendered many of its core assumptions outdated.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.