passé

A woman's once-fashionable dress now looks passé at the party.

Definition

1. Adjective:
   • Out of fashion: "passé" describes something that is no longer fashionable or current; outdated or old-fashioned.
   • Past one's prime: "passé" can also refer to a person or thing that has lost its relevance, vitality, or appeal due to age or changing times.

Usage Examples

• (Her musical preference is old-fashioned and no longer trendy.)
• (That architectural style is outdated and no longer in vogue.)
• (He believed his abilities were no longer relevant or current.)

Advanced Usage

• "passé as a term in criticism": used in art, literature, or cultural commentary to denote something that was once innovative but has since become cliché or obsolete.

  • The critic dismissed the novel as passé, noting its reliance on tired tropes. (The critic rejected the novel as outdated due to its use of worn-out conventions.)

• "passé in social contexts": describing a person or idea that no longer fits contemporary norms.

  • Her views on etiquette are considered passé among younger generations. (Her opinions on proper behaviour are seen as old-fashioned by young people.)

Variants and Related Words

• Passéism (n): a tendency to admire or focus on the past; nostalgia for outdated things.

  • His passéism led him to collect vinyl records and vintage clothing. (His fondness for the past made him collect old-fashioned items.)

• Passéist (n or adj): a person who prefers or advocates for outdated styles or ideas.

  • The designer is a passéist, insisting on using 19th-century patterns. (The designer favours old-fashioned designs.)

Synonyms

• Outdated: no longer in use or current.
• Old-fashioned: belonging to or typical of a past era.
• Obsolete: no longer produced or used; out of date.
• Antiquated: very old or old-fashioned.
• Démodé (French borrowing): out of fashion.

Related Idioms

• Past its sell-by date: no longer effective or desirable (British English, often used for food but extended to ideas).

  • That political ideology is past its sell-by date. (That ideology is no longer relevant or viable.)

• Behind the times: not aware of or using the latest ideas or trends.

  • His refusal to use email shows he is behind the times. (He is not keeping up with modern communication methods.)