antediluvian
UK /ˌæn.ti.dɪˈluː.vi.ən/ US /ˌæn.ti.dɪˈluː.vi.ən/ Syllables: an-te-di-lu-vi-an
Quick answer
Extremely old-fashioned or outdated, often used humorously to exaggerate how behind the times something is.
Antediluvian literally means from the time before the biblical Flood, but it is used for anything that is hopelessly old-fashioned. An antediluvian computer is one that belongs in a museum, and antediluvian attitudes are ideas that the modern world has long left behind. The word is playful and slightly mocking, and it is almost always exaggeration, not a statement about ancient history.
"My uncle still refuses to use a mobile phone — his views on technology are almost antediluvian."Meanings
- Of the time before the biblical Flood.
- Very old-fashioned.
Example sentences
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"His antediluvian attitudes shocked the younger staff."
Level C2, Meaning 2
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"The office still uses an antediluvian filing system."
Level C2, Meaning 2
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"She laughed at the antediluvian machine in the corner."
Level C2, Meaning 2
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"That idea is positively antediluvian."
Level C2, Meaning 2
Synonyms and antonyms
Look-alikes and common mistakes
- ancient : Ancient means very old, often in a serious way. Antediluvian is a joking word for something absurdly old-fashioned.
Word family and forms
Word partners
Words and phrases that often go with "antediluvian".
- antediluvian attitudes
- an antediluvian machine
- antediluvian ideas
- positively antediluvian
- antediluvian methods
- antediluvian views
Origin
Antediluvian is built from Latin ante, meaning before, and diluvium, meaning a flood. It refers to the great flood in the story of Noah in the Bible, so antediluvian first meant from the time before the Flood.
Checked against: Wiktionary, the free dictionary, Merriam-Webster Dictionary, Dictionary.com.
Usage notes
Literally, "antediluvian" means "before the flood" from the Bible. Today it is used almost entirely as exaggeration, not literal ancient history.
How to remember it
Ante means before and diluvian sounds like deluge, a flood: antediluvian means before the flood.
Test yourself
Which word fits the gap? "His _____ attitudes shocked the younger staff."
Answer: antediluvian
In your own words, what does "antediluvian" mean?
Extremely old-fashioned or outdated, often used humorously to exaggerate how behind the times something is.
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Sources and credits
- Wiktionary, the free dictionary (CC BY-SA 4.0) · used for the origin, pronunciation · checked Oct 19, 2026
- Merriam-Webster Dictionary · used for the origin · checked Oct 19, 2026
- Dictionary.com · used for the origin · checked Oct 19, 2026
Last reviewed October 19, 2026. Report a mistake on this page