old school

American  

noun

1. advocates or supporters of established custom or of conservatism.

   a military man of the old school.

---

old school British  

noun

1. a school formerly attended by a person

2. a group of people favouring traditional ideas or conservative practices

---

Other Word Forms

• old-school adjective

Etymology

Origin of old school

First recorded in 1790–1800

Example Sentences

When I was scouting for Kei, I had to do it old school — go back and watch matches and learn different things about different players.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 10, 2026

Giardina’s prescription, and that of many other liberals and progressives in the region, is straightforward — and old school.

From Salon • Feb. 19, 2026

My younger brother is like, “Hey, man, I just went in for a test, and they’re telling me I got to have an old school triple bypass,” and then that’s what we all get tested.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 13, 2026

Yair Lapid appointed to his Yesh Atid party’s central committee “his mother, sister, children and old school buddies,” Mr. Segal writes.

From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 28, 2025

“The same old school, the same old faces,” Jenna says with a sigh.

From "A Mango-Shaped Space" by Wendy Mass