passee
Definition
Adjective: 1. Out of fashion; no longer stylish or current: Describing something, especially clothing, ideas, or styles, that was once popular but is now considered old-fashioned or obsolete.
Usage
The adjective "passé" is used to describe things that are perceived as being behind the times. It often carries a slightly dismissive or critical tone, suggesting something is no longer relevant or desirable. * It is typically placed before a noun (e.g., a passé trend) or used after a linking verb like "is" or "seems." * It is more commonly used in its original French form, "passé," but "passée" is the feminine form in French. In English, "passé" is generally used for all genders.
Examples
- That hairstyle is completely passé; no one wears it like that anymore.
- He held onto some passé notions about office culture that frustrated his younger colleagues.
- The technology, once revolutionary, is now considered passé.
Advanced Usage
- Cultural Commentary: Often used in critiques of art, fashion, music, or social trends to denote something that has fallen out of favor.
- Critics argued that the film's direction was passé, relying on techniques from a bygone era.
Variants and Related Words
- Passé (adj.): The more common and standard spelling in English for this concept.
- Demode (adj.): A synonym directly from French, also meaning out of fashion.
- Outmoded (adj.): No longer modern, useful, or acceptable.
- Antiquated (adj.): Old-fashioned or outdated, especially in a way that is inconvenient or inefficient.
- Démodé (adj.): Another French borrowing with the same meaning as "passé."
Synonyms
- Outdated
- Old-fashioned
- Outmoded
- Unfashionable
- Dated
- Obsolete
Antonyms
- Fashionable
- Modern
- Current
- Trendy
- Contemporary
- In vogue
Related Idioms/Phrases
- Behind the times: Having old-fashioned ideas or methods.
- Old hat: Very familiar and therefore no longer interesting.
Adjective
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out of fashion
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a suit of rather antique appearance
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demode (or outmoded) attire
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outmoded ideas
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