old-fashioned

/oʊldˈfæʃənd/

//oʊldˈfæʃənd// adj

"old-fashioned" is a 12-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.

The verdict

“old-fashioned” is outside the top-ranked English vocabulary, used as an adjective - the kind of word writers most often double-check.

Unranked
below top-frequency English
13
letters

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - Of an object, outdated or no longer in vogue.

Key facts for old-fashioned
PropertyValue
Headwordold-fashioned
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechAdjective
IPA/oʊldˈfæʃənd/
Letters13
Misspellings tracked0
Confusable pairs0
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “old-fashioned” sits in English frequency

old-fashioned falls outside the top-100,000 ranked English words, the long-tail zone of technical, archaic, or low-frequency vocabulary, exactly where readers second-guess spellings most.

Beyond rank #100,000. Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list.

Spelling & Dictionary Insight

The English entry for old-fashioned is 13 letters long, classified as an adjective, and transcribed in the International Phonetic Alphabet as /oʊldˈfæʃənd/. It sits outside the most-frequent rank tiers, which is often why uncommon words generate more spelling variants per reader. Wiktionary records 2 distinct senses for this headword, so context determines which meaning a reader should apply.

old-fashioned doesn't appear in our generated misspelling index, a straightforward case of a spelling with little room for common typos. Our confusable-pair dataset has no match for it, since its spelling is unusual enough that it doesn't cluster with a lookalike.

Etymologically, the entry records: From old + fashioned. The cocktail (which goes back to at least the early 1800s) got its name in the late 1800s as more complicated cocktails became common and those who preferred simpler drinks began asking for old-fashioned cocktails. The correct English form is old-fashioned, spelled O-L-D---F-A-S-H-I-O-N-E-D.

Definition

  1. 1
    Of an object, outdated or no longer in vogue.
  2. 2
    Of a person, preferring the customs of earlier times and the old-style ways.

Etymology

From old + fashioned. The cocktail (which goes back to at least the early 1800s) got its name in the late 1800s as more complicated cocktails became common and those who preferred simpler drinks began asking for old-fashioned cocktails.

Antonyms

This word in other languages

Definitions, pronunciation, and etymology for this entry are drawn from Wiktionary via the kaikki.org structured extract (CC BY-SA). See the methodology for how each field is sourced and updated.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you spell "old-fashioned"?
"old-fashioned" is spelled O-L-D---F-A-S-H-I-O-N-E-D. The IPA pronunciation is /oʊldˈfæʃənd/.
What does "old-fashioned" mean?
As an adjective, "old-fashioned" means: Of an object, outdated or no longer in vogue.
How do you pronounce "old-fashioned"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "old-fashioned" is /oʊldˈfæʃənd/. Click the speaker icon on the pronunciation badge above to hear it spoken aloud where audio is available.
What is the origin of the word "old-fashioned"?
From old + fashioned. The cocktail (which goes back to at least the early 1800s) got its name in the late 1800s as more complicated cocktails became common and those who preferred simpler drinks began asking for old-fashioned cocktails. See the full etymology section above for more details.
Is PlainSpell free to use?
Yes, PlainSpell is a completely free word reference. You can look up definitions, pronunciations, confusable pairs, homophones, and spelling corrections across 5 languages without any sign-up or subscription.

Using “old-fashioned”

The practical upshot for anyone who landed here from a spell-check.

  • The one correct English spelling is O-L-D---F-A-S-H-I-O-N-E-D - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
  • Say it as /oʊldˈfæʃənd/ (IPA); tap the speaker on the pronunciation badge to hear it where audio exists.
  • Browse more English words and confusable pairs in the same reference. English words
Data Source

Wiktionary (via kaikki.org), licensed under CC BY-SA & GFDL. Word ordering uses an open word-frequency list; misspelling variants are generated by edit-distance from the correct headword.

Source: Wiktionary (via kaikki.org) Structured Wiktionary extract

Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list FrequencyWords open word-frequency list