What does antiquated mean?
Antiquated is an adjective describing something that has become old-fashioned and no longer suited to modern conditions or needs. It is commonly applied to systems, equipment, laws, methods, and institutions — an antiquated computer network, an antiquated bureaucracy — as well as to ideas, customs, and attitudes that belong to an earlier era. The word carries a distinctly negative connotation: unlike 'antique', which suggests the charm or value of age, 'antiquated' implies obsolescence and the need for replacement or reform. It sits in formal and neutral registers, appearing frequently in journalism, policy discussion, and criticism of institutional inertia. Derived from the Latin 'antiquus' ('old'), it entered English usage in the early seventeenth century. Related words include 'obsolete', which stresses that something has fallen entirely out of use, and 'old-fashioned', a milder term that can even carry nostalgic affection. Antiquated is useful precisely because it names that middle ground: something still functioning, perhaps, but clearly past its time.
adjectiveOld-fashioned and no longer suitable for modern conditions; out of date.
- (of things such as systems, laws, or equipment) old-fashioned and no longer suitable for modern conditions
- (of ideas, attitudes, or practices) belonging to an earlier time and considered out of date
"The factory still relied on antiquated machinery that broke down every week."
"The hospital's antiquated record-keeping system made it nearly impossible to find patient files quickly."
"She dismissed his views on women in the workplace as antiquated."
Antiquated comes from the Latin 'antiquus' meaning 'old' — the same root that gives us 'antique', but where 'antique' suggests value, 'antiquated' suggests something overdue for the scrapheap.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of antiquated
Antiquated derives from the Latin verb 'antiquare' (to make old or render obsolete), formed on the root 'antiquus', meaning 'old' or 'ancient'. The word entered English in the early seventeenth century, initially carrying the sense of making something appear older than it is, before settling into its modern meaning of being genuinely out of date. It shares its Latin root with 'antique', 'antiquity', and 'antiquarian', all of which trace back to 'antiquus'.
Related word forms
How antiquated is actually used
Antiquated is a formal to neutral register word, most often used in writing about institutions, technology, law, and social attitudes. It carries a mildly critical connotation — it implies not just age but unsuitability for present needs. It is typically applied to things and abstract concepts rather than people; calling a person's views antiquated is acceptable, but describing the person themselves as antiquated is unusual.
Easily confused with antiquated
Antediluvian means extremely old or primitive (literally 'before the Flood'), a stronger term than antiquated, which simply means out of date.
Antique refers to a valuable object from an earlier era, whereas antiquated describes something outdated and no longer useful, usually with negative connotation.