old school meaning: definition, etymology and quotations

old school

noun

UK /ˈəʊl(d)skuːl/ · US /ˈoʊl(d)ˌskul/

Etymology The noun is derived from old + school (“followers of a particular doctrine; particular doctrine or way of thinking”), probably a shortening of old school of thinking, old school of thought, or some similar phrase. The adjective is derived from the attributive form of the noun.

Idiomatic Preceded by the: a group of people characterized by being conservative or traditional; also, a method for accomplishing a task, a style, or a way of thinking that was employed in a former era, remembered either for its inferiority to the current method, or for its superiority over the new way.

Family experts are advocating a change away from the old school, advising parents not to medicate behavioural problems.
My mom’s a good baker because she’s of the old school. She’d never buy ready-made cookie dough.

4 more examples

[A]s I am grand nephevv to a phyſician of the old ſchool, give me leave to revolt vvith you againſt chymical medicines. […] I vvould vvillingly perform the office of executioner to theſe ignorant innovators, of vvhom you complain vvith ſuch eloquence and juſtice.1749, [Alain-René Lesage], “Gil Blas Sets Out for the Asturias; Passes through Valladolid, where He Visits His Old Master Doctor Sangrado, and Meets, by Accident, with Signior Manuel Ordonnez, Director of the Hospital.”, in [Tobias George Smollett], transl., The Adventures of Gil Blas of Santillane, volume IV, London: […] J. Osborn, […], →OCLC, book X, page 6:
Aha! Haha! Did I hear from the fireside armchair the bow-wow of the old school defending its drugs? Ah, believe me, Paddy, the world would be healthier if every chemist's shop in England were demolished.1906 (date written), [George] Bernard Shaw, “The Doctor’s Dilemma”, in The Doctor’s Dilemma, Getting Married, & The Shewing-Up of Blanco Posnet, London: Constable and Company, published 1911, →OCLC, Act I, page 23:
Pathetic as its passing is, one cannot honestly regret the old school. I was looking last night at the programme of my very first hall, and received a terrible shock to my time-sense. Where are the snows of yesteryear? Where are the entertainers of 1895?1915, Thomas Burke, “An Entertainment Night: Round the Halls”, in Nights in Town: A London Autobiography, London: George Allen & Unwin […], page 44:
The amount of external pipework is also unusual in a British locomotive, though apparent in the most recent L.M.S.R. designs, such as the Class "4" 2-6-0s; but while lacking the tidiness of the old school of British locomotive engineering, this has obvious application for maintenance purposes in present circumstances.1951 April, Stirling Everard, “A Matter of Pedigree”, in The Railway Magazine, number 600, London: Tothill Press, →ISSN, →OCLC, page 274:

Entertainment, Lifestyle, Music Idiomatic A style of popular music regarded as more old-fashioned or traditional, or not following newer trends; specifically (often old skool), hip-hop or rap music of the late 1970s and 1980s (or more recent music of this style) as contrasted with newer styles of such music.

Rap is not one particular thing. Just like there are many different types of music, there are different types of rap. Hardcore, like Ice Cube, or OldSchool, like the Sugarhill Gang, are two facets on the gem we call hip hop.1992 October 5, The Invisible Man, “[W]hat is all this fake shit”, in alt.rap (Usenet):

Derived terms: old schooler
Related terms: they don't make them like that anymore

old school

adj

Idiomatic Now often old-school: characteristic of a method for accomplishing a task, a style, or a way of thinking that was employed in a former era, remembered either for its inferiority to the current method, or for its superiority over the new way.

That teacher’s old-school methods aren’t effective. They’re just annoying.
Man, I love that jacket; it’s so old school.

3 more examples

Many railway officers complain that the deep interest of the old-school railwaymen in their job is dying; the B.T.C.'s new approach seems calculated to hasten its death and breed thousands more time-servers.1962 November, “Talking of Trains: The One-day Strike”, in Modern Railways, Shepperton, Surrey: Ian Allan Publishing, →ISSN, →OCLC, page 291:
How Kieran Trippier bent it like Beckham to score England's brilliant World Cup opener against Croatia [title] […] That was an old school free-kick from Kieran Trippier, straight out of the David Beckham playbook. His aim is to get as much whip and dip on the ball as possible. Trippier addresses the side of the ball, plants his left foot alongside it and his right takes care of the rest. The way he wraps his foot around the ball generates a top-spin effect, like a sweetly struck forehand from Rafael Nadal.2018 July 12, Jamie Redknapp, “How Kieran Trippier bent it like Beckham to score England's brilliant World Cup opener against Croatia”, in Daily Mail, London: DMG Media, →ISSN, →OCLC, archived from the original on 31 Mar 2025:
The seat reservations are also old-school, with labels in the back of seats.2019 October 23, Pip Dunn, “The Next King of Scotland”, in Rail, Peterborough, Cambridgeshire: Bauer Media, →ISSN, →OCLC, page 51:

Entertainment, Lifestyle, Music Idiomatic Of or relating to a style of popular music regarded as more old-fashioned or traditional, or not following newer trends; specifically (often old skool), of or relating to hip-hop or rap music of the late 1970s and 1980s (or more recent music of this style) as contrasted with newer styles of such music.

Also look out for a PHAT PHAT oldskool style tune on Jemini [the Gifted One]'s album set to drop in the next couple of weeks. It uses the Love Unlimited 'Strange Games and Things' break, and comes on with the old skool rhymes believe …1995 April 14, ed [pseudonym], “Low Down on New Tunes dropping soon”, in rec.music.hip-hop (Usenet):

Christianity, Government, Politics US, Idiomatic Chiefly in the form Old School: having conservative or traditional views on Christianity or politics.

Local politicians assume various appellations, such as New School and Old School Democrats, Snyderites, Clintonians, and many others, mostly derived from the name or principles of some popular demagogue.1816, “an Old Scene Painter” [pseudonym], The Emigrant’s Guide; or, A Picture of America: […], London: […] W[illiam] Clowes, […] for W[illiam] Simpkin and R[ichard] Marshall, […], →OCLC, footnote *, page 17:
[W]e both agree that you are defrauding some honest man of his just due. I recommend that you form an acquaintance, with a view to prospective results for life, with some well-settled, Old-School Presbyterian clergyman, and send me some of the cake.1862 (date written), Ida Husted Harper, quoting Theodore Tilton, “Mob Experience—Civil War. 1861–1862.”, in The Life and Work of Susan B. Anthony […], volume I, Indianapolis, Ind.; Kansas City, Mo.: The Bowen-Merrill Company, published 1899, →OCLC, page 218: