archaism
1 synonym and 1 antonym for archaism, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Noun — An old-fashioned word, phrase or style that is no longer in ordinary use.
Synonyms
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
archaicism
Antonyms
How to use archaism
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
an archaism
a linguistic archaism
deliberate archaism
a quaint archaism
full of archaisms
It is a fairly formal, technical word used mainly when discussing language and literature.
Etymology
The word dates from the 17th century and comes from New Latin archaismus. That in turn came from Ancient Greek, where a related word meant an antiquated phrase or style, and ultimately from a Greek word meaning old or ancient.
Full origin of archaism →Frequently asked questions
What does archaism mean?
An archaism is an old-fashioned word, phrase or style that is no longer in everyday use. The word can also mean the deliberate imitation of such language.
What is an example of an archaism?
"Thou" and "hath" are familiar examples of archaisms in English. Writers sometimes use them on purpose to sound old-fashioned.
What is the adjective for archaism?
The related adjective is archaic, meaning belonging to an earlier period and no longer in ordinary use.
