old skool

UK/ˈəʊl(d)skuːl/US/ˈoʊl(d)ˌskul/

A form of old school — Preceded by the: a group of people characterized by being conservative or traditional; also, a method for accomplishing a task, a style, or a way of thinking that was employed in a former era, remembered either for its inferiority to the current method, or for its superiority over the new way.

Meanings

nounold skool (uncountable)

alternative oldskool · alternative ol' skool

  1. alternativepronunciation spellingslanguncountableentertainmentAlternative spelling of old school (“hip-hop or rap music of the late 1970s and 1980s (or more recent music of this style) as contrasted with newer styles of such music”).
adjectiveold skool (comparative more old skool, superlative most old skool)

comparative more old skool · superlative most old skool · alternative oldskool · alternative ol' skool

  1. alternativepronunciation spellingslangentertainmentAlternative spelling of old school (“of or relating to hip-hop or rap music of the late 1970s and 1980s (or more recent music of this style) as contrasted with newer styles of such music”).

    Also look out for a PHAT PHAT oldskool style tune on Jemini [the Gifted One]'s album set to drop in the next couple of weeks. It uses the Love Unlimited 'Strange Games and Things' break, and comes on with the old skool rhymes believe …

    1995 April 14, ed [pseudonym], “Low Down on New Tunes dropping soon”, in rec.music.hip-hop (Usenet)
Cite this entry
APA

old skool. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/old%20skool

MLA

“old skool.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/old%20skool. Accessed November 3, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “old skool,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/old%20skool.

Source: old skool on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.