Outdated

ˌaʊtˈdeɪtɪd

adjectiveBeginner📊CommonTechnology
1 meaning2 idioms/phrases3 questions

Definitions

1

No longer modern or in use; old-fashioned.

ˌaʊtˈdeɪtɪd

adjectivenegativeBeginner
Technology

No longer current or fashionable

The textbook's information was outdated, so the students couldn't trust it.

💡 Simply: Imagine you're wearing clothes that were super cool five years ago, but now everyone's wearing something different. Those clothes are outdated, like that old video game system your parents gave away.

👶 For kids: Something that is outdated is old and not used anymore, like an old toy or a video game that isn't cool anymore.

More Examples

2

Their website's design felt outdated compared to modern websites.

3

Many people consider the traditional way of doing business outdated in the current era.

How It's Used

Technology

"The company's software is becoming increasingly outdated."

Fashion

"That style of clothing looks outdated now."

Idioms & expressions

Outdated technology

Technology that is old, no longer effective, or superseded by newer versions.

"The company is struggling because it has outdated technology."

outdated ideas

Ideas that are old-fashioned, no longer relevant, or considered obsolete.

"Some of the rules and regulations in this company have outdated ideas."

From 'out' (meaning no longer) + 'dated' (past participle of 'date', meaning to give a date to something, or to be from a specific time). Indicates something that is no longer current.

The word 'outdated' began appearing in the mid-19th century, coinciding with the rise of industrialization and rapidly changing technology, where the concept of something becoming 'old' quickly was also new.

Memory tip

Think of an old calendar – once the date is past, it's outdated.

Word Origin

LanguageEnglish
Original meaning

"out (no longer) + dated (from a specific time, past participle of 'date')"

outdated informationoutdated technologyoutdated ideasoutdated designoutdated software

Common misspellings

out-datedout dated

Usage

40%Spoken
60%Written