oldish

Oldish is an informal adjective meaning somewhat old or beginning to seem dated. It can describe a person's appearance, a building, clothing, a design, a piece of technology, or an idea, and it generally conveys a mild, sometimes humorous judgment rather than strong disapproval. For example, one might call a well-preserved but traditional-looking interior oldish, or describe an interface as oldish without implying that it is unusable. The word is especially useful in conversation because it softens criticism: it suggests that something has an older character or is no longer entirely current while leaving open the possibility that it still has appeal or value. Its use is common in informal British and American English, and it should generally be avoided in highly formal writing.

Somewhat old; not new, but not necessarily very old. The word is informal and often suggests that something is beginning to seem dated or less current.

Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.

Etymology of oldish

Oldish is formed in the early 19th century by adding the suffix -ish to the adjective old, a word inherited from Old English. The suffix -ish had long been used in English to indicate a degree or approximation, as in childish or reddish. Oldish thus means something like somewhat old or tending to be old, and it shares its basic lexical roots with older, eldest, and the noun elder.

How oldish is actually used

Informal and mildly critical or teasing when describing appearance or style. It is more tactful than saying that something is old or out of date.

Easily confused with oldish

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Words and phrases paired with oldish

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Rhymes with oldish