outdated

outdated — adjective

1. no longer suitable, useful, or attractive because newer ideas, styles, or inform

1.adjectiveB2
Definition

no longer suitable, useful, or attractive because newer ideas, styles, or information are now available.

Example

The hospital still uses outdated paper forms at the front desk.

outdated + system or paperwork

Mina deleted the outdated map from her phone before the trip.

outdated information on a device

Common collocations
  • outdated paper forms
  • outdated map
  • outdated science book
  • outdated safety rules
  • outdated dress code
Synonyms
  • old-fashioned

    often refers to style or attitudes and can sometimes sound warm rather than critical

  • obsolete

    more formal and stronger, often implying a newer replacement has clearly taken over

  • out-of-date

    a very close everyday synonym, especially for information or fashion

  • antiquated

    more strongly negative and suggests something is awkwardly far behind the present

Antonyms
  • current

    matching what is used or known now

  • modern

    using present-day styles or methods

  • up-to-date

    including the newest information or features

Grammar Patterns

outdated + noun

be outdated

Usage Note

Most often describes information, rules, systems, equipment, or ideas rather than people. Stronger than 'old-fashioned': it usually suggests something should be updated or replaced, not simply that it belongs to an earlier style.

Common Mistakes

My grandmother is outdated.
My grandmother has old-fashioned ideas.
'outdated' normally describes things such as rules, tools, or information, not a person.
This museum shows outdated cups from the Qing period.
This museum shows old cups from the Qing period.
'outdated' means no longer suitable now, not simply made long ago.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: adjective/1

'Outdated' is the everyday choice for things that no longer fit present life, such as software, rules, or facts in a textbook. 'Old-fashioned' can overlap, but it often points more to style, manners, or opinions, and it is sometimes warm rather than fully negative. 'Obsolete' is stronger and slightly more formal: it suggests a clear replacement, as when email made fax machines obsolete. 'Out-of-date' is very close to 'outdated' and is common in everyday speech, especially for information. 'Antiquated' is the harshest of these words and often sounds critical or even mocking. You might call a school website outdated, a view about family roles old-fashioned, and a cassette player obsolete.

outdated ↗old-fashioned ↗obsolete ↗out-of-dateantiquated

Common collocations

Nouns

  • outdated information
  • outdated rules
  • outdated software
  • outdated equipment
  • outdated ideas

Adverbs

  • badly outdated
  • hopelessly outdated
  • slightly outdated

Phrases

  • become outdated
  • look outdated
  • seem outdated

Etymology

LatinOld FrenchEnglish

Built in English from the verb 'outdate', which joins 'out-' with 'date'. 'Date' came into English through French from Latin and first referred to the stated day or time of something. From the idea of belonging to an earlier date than the present one, 'outdated' came to describe ideas, tools, and information that no longer match current life.