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unmodern

unmodern

6.6
Having an older style that does not follow current fashion
  • adjective
translation icon : anticuado
  • Her taste in fashion is quite unmodern, as she prefers styles from the 1950s.
  • very unmodern

Examples

  • Capitalism does not forbid us this dream—that is an unmodern method—but it takes care that we forget it.

    Academic text (1992)
  • This bias toward the practices of wealthy people, even if about the modern nation through depictions of its unmodern Others, may represent an attempt to erase any traces of poverty from public view.

    Academic text (2004)
  • That is, even explicitly local and unmodern practices involve agents of the state and seek state legitimation through registration.

    Academic text (2004)
  • We can expect nationalism, however defined, to grow in intensity as modern states become even more modern and unmodern states embark on the road to modernity.

    Academic text (1992)
  • The quest to document unmodern heritage among ethnic minorities in the Thai countryside is not simply about modernity and its opposites.

    Academic text (2004)
  • On this national stage, Mien people tend to be characterized or even celebrated as the nation's unmodern alternative, such as in the television documentary about their ancient ritual traditions and in the Tribal Research Institute's documentation of a traditional wedding.

    Academic text (2004)
  • This article discusses the repeated framing of Mien ethnic minority highland people as unmodern in relation to projects of modernity and modernization in Thailand.

    Academic text (2004)
  • The antique shop was filled with unmodern furniture that reminded me of a bygone era.

  • He lives in an unmodern house that lacks the conveniences of contemporary living.

Synonyms

old-fashioned
vsunmodern
149 4.7

Not in style, like clothes or ideas from an earlier time

is the neutral term for not modern without focusing on age
outdated
vsunmodern
78 5.0

No longer useful or fashionable because it is old

covers being not modern both in style and usefulness
uncool
vsunmodern
  • Informal
40 7.4

Not fashionable or popular and thought boring

is the broader lack of modernness, not only social appeal
archaic
vsunmodern
34 9.9

Very old and not used in everyday life

is the basic not modern idea without historical or linguistic tone
antiquated
vsunmodern
32 8.2

Very old and not useful or suitable now

is the general not modern idea but less extreme in age
outmoded
vsunmodern
11 6.5

No longer fashionable or useful

is the same broad not modern idea without technical tone
antique
vsunmodern
9 7.5

Old-fashioned and not modern

is the general not modern label, not stressing collectable value
prehistoric
vsunmodern
  • Informal
8 5.8

Very old-fashioned and not modern

is the general not modern label without joking exaggeration
unfashionable
vsunmodern
8 3.7

Few people wear it now because it is not in style

means not modern but focuses on fashion rather than age
dated
vsunmodern
3 6.2

Not modern and looking old-fashioned

is the general not modern label not only about appearance
unhip
vsunmodern
  • Informal
2 7.7

Not fashionable or aware of current trends

is the general not modern sense without social cool focus
antediluvian
vsunmodern
2 9.9

Very old-fashioned and out of date

is the general not modern idea without implying great antiquity
old-hat
vsunmodern
  • Informal
1 6.8

No longer new or fashionable

is the general not modern description without slangy tone
unstylish
vsunmodern
1 3.7

Not fashionable or elegant in appearance

is the broader not modern idea covering fashion and ideas
nonmodern
vsunmodern
7.4

From an earlier time or older style

is the general term for lacking modern style or ideas
mediaeval
vsunmodern
  • UK
9.9

Old-fashioned and unfair in ideas or ways of treating people

is the general not modern sense without strong historical meaning
unmodernized
vsunmodern
7.4

Not changed to use new methods or machines

is the general state of being not modern, not the process
unchic
vsunmodern
8.0

Not fashionable or stylish, often plain and old-fashioned

is the general not modern label, not only about elegance

Antonyms

1.4

Relating to the present time and new ways of doing things

How Modern

cutting-edge
49 5.6
contemporary
219 4.2
modern
1.4
unmodern
6.6
old-fashioned
149 4.7
archaic
34 9.9

Surface Forms

unmodern positive
unmore modern comparative
unmost modern superlative

Morphology

unmodern = modern (transparent) = un + modern

A standard negative prefix 'un-' applied to the adjective 'modern' yields the straightforward opposite meaning 'not modern'.

Etymology

Unmodern is formed from the start un- meaning 'not' and modern, a word that means 'new' or 'of now'. So unmodern literally means 'not new' and is used for things that are old-fashioned or not in current style.