What does anachronical mean?
"Anachronical" is a rare English adjective meaning that something belongs to the wrong period of time or appears out of its proper chronological order. It describes elements — objects, ideas, customs, or expressions — that are placed in a setting where they could not historically have existed, such as a clock striking in a drama set before clocks were invented. The word derives from Greek roots meaning "backward" and "time," making it a sibling of the far more common "anachronism." In practice, writers overwhelmingly favor "anachronistic," and "anachronical" survives chiefly in literary criticism, older texts, and deliberately elevated prose. It is fully understood by educated readers but may strike some as unusual or archaic-sounding, which is itself faintly fitting for a word about things being out of their own era.
adjectiveBelonging or occurring in the wrong period of time; out of its proper chronological order or context.
- Relating to or characterized by anachronism; placed or occurring in the wrong historical time.
"The film's depiction of medieval knights using telescopes felt thoroughly anachronical."
"Critics noted the play's anachronical references to modern technology in a story set in ancient Rome."
"The historian dismissed the manuscript as anachronical, since it described events with vocabulary that did not exist at the time."
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of anachronical
"Anachronical" traces to Greek roots via Latin and French models: the prefix "ana-" (meaning back or backward) combined with "chronos" (time), yielding the idea of a lapse or displacement in time. It formed alongside the noun "anachronism," which entered English in the early 17th century. The adjective shares its Greek root "chronos" with words such as "chronology," "chronicle," and "synchronize." Its rival form "anachronistic" ultimately displaced it in general use.
Related word forms
How anachronical is actually used
A rare, formal word found mostly in literary criticism and scholarly writing; 'anachronistic' is strongly preferred in everyday usage.
Easily confused with anachronical
Both mean belonging to the wrong era, but 'anachronistic' is by far the standard modern choice, while 'anachronical' is a rare, largely literary variant.
'Anachronic' is another rare synonym for out-of-time placement, whereas 'anachronical' adds the adjectival '-ical' ending; neither carries a different core meaning.