Anachronistic
adjective
Something that is not in its correct historical time, especially a thing or idea that belongs to an earlier time.
The use of electric candles in this ancient monastery seems anachronistic.
Often appears as...
- anachronistic perspective
- anachronistic viewpoint
adjective
An object or word that is mistakenly placed in a time where it does not belong to, used often in literature, movies, or other media.
Her reference to smartphones in a story set in the 1960s was anachronistic.
Often appears as...
- anachronistic error
- anachronistic reference
Usage tips
Literary
adjective
Something that is not in its correct historical time, especially a thing or idea that belongs to an earlier time.
The use of electric candles in this ancient monastery seems anachronistic.
Often appears as...
- anachronistic perspective
- anachronistic viewpoint
adjective
An object or word that is mistakenly placed in a time where it does not belong to, used often in literature, movies, or other media.
Her reference to smartphones in a story set in the 1960s was anachronistic.
Often appears as...
- anachronistic error
- anachronistic reference
Usage tips
Literary
Definition 1 of 2
Pro Tip 1/3Historical Context
Use 'anachronistic' when discussing history or tradition to highlight something that doesn't fit the era.
The knight's fiberglass shield felt anachronistic in the medieval reenactment.
Pro Tip 2/3Cultural Reference
Understand specific eras to identify anachronistic elements that may not match that time period.
The movie about ancient Rome had anachronistic dialogue, with characters saying 'okay.'
Pro Tip 3/3Intentional Use
Sometimes 'anachronistic' is used purposely in stories to create humor or contrast.
The time-travel film humorously featured an anachronistic pop song in a Victorian ballroom.
Compare with
antiquatedarchaicobsoleteoutdatedprimitive
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Video examples
Steve Boyes: Reviving...
continuous piece of sand on earth it's assuming in a little bit to have a look at this catchment it's almost anachronistic it shouldn't be this way it shouldn't be so perfect it was the Angolan war it was civil war following that that kept people out of there he visits parts of that catchment today you'll find broken down here
Video examples
Why Gender Equality Is...
It was a conversation between two women. One of the women was white, and one was black. And the white woman said -- this is going to sound very anachronistic now --
Video examples
Steve Boyes: Reviving...
continuous piece of sand on earth it's assuming in a little bit to have a look at this catchment it's almost anachronistic it shouldn't be this way it shouldn't be so perfect it was the Angolan war it was civil war following that that kept people out of there he visits parts of that catchment today you'll find broken down here
Video examples
Why Gender Equality Is...
It was a conversation between two women. One of the women was white, and one was black. And the white woman said -- this is going to sound very anachronistic now --
Example 1 of 2
Quote examples
Lev Grossman
American Novelist
One already feels like an anachronism, writing novels in the age of what-ever-this-is-the-age-of, but touring to promote them feels doubly anachronistic. The marketplace is showing an increasing intolerance for the time-honored practice of printing information on paper and shipping it around the country.
Quote examples
Dana Loesch
American Activist
Judges are either partial to the Constitution or they aren't; they either believe that the document is perfect in its form and that rights like free speech don't ebb in and out of style - or they believe that it's an anachronistic document in a world that needs a malleable, living Constitution.
Quote examples
Paramahansa Yogananda
Indian Leader
I find my earliest memories covering the anachronistic features of a previous incarnation. Clear recollections came to me of a distant life, a yogi amidst the Himalayan snows. These glimpses of the past, by some dimensionless link, also afforded me a glimpse of the future.
Quote examples
Travis Knight
American Producer
This medium of stop-motion, it can be much more than it's been kind of defined as - it's not just a creaky and anachronistic way of making films, it actually is a very vital art form that can do wonderful things if put in the right hands.
Quote examples
Chris Pine
American Actor
I have a romantic vision of the beautiful delineation between TV and film that existed for so many years. I romanticize the studio system and movie stars as a whole, but obviously that's just anachronistic and probably a non-reality.
Quote examples
Juan Williams
American Journalist
Yes, agriculture subsidies are far too generous. They need to be reined in because they cater to special interests while distorting free market competition. Yes, the farm laws are an anachronistic mess.
Quote examples
Garth Stein
American Author
I know in this time of great technological advancement, the idea of reading a book seems almost anachronistic, but I think it's worth preserving.
Quote examples
Paul F. Tompkins
American Comedian
Just because I have a good vocabulary, I don't think of myself as anachronistic - just because I try not to use the word 'like' every other word.
Quote examples
Trevor Paglen
American Artist
To me, traditional approaches to doing photography and thinking about photography feel increasingly anachronistic.
Quote examples
Mark Zandi
American Economist
We need to get rid of the debt ceiling law. It's anachronistic and it's a problem.
Quote examples
Lev Grossman
American Novelist
One already feels like an anachronism, writing novels in the age of what-ever-this-is-the-age-of, but touring to promote them feels doubly anachronistic. The marketplace is showing an increasing intolerance for the time-honored practice of printing information on paper and shipping it around the country.
Quote examples
Dana Loesch
American Activist
Judges are either partial to the Constitution or they aren't; they either believe that the document is perfect in its form and that rights like free speech don't ebb in and out of style - or they believe that it's an anachronistic document in a world that needs a malleable, living Constitution.
Quote examples
Paramahansa Yogananda
Indian Leader
I find my earliest memories covering the anachronistic features of a previous incarnation. Clear recollections came to me of a distant life, a yogi amidst the Himalayan snows. These glimpses of the past, by some dimensionless link, also afforded me a glimpse of the future.
Quote examples
Travis Knight
American Producer
This medium of stop-motion, it can be much more than it's been kind of defined as - it's not just a creaky and anachronistic way of making films, it actually is a very vital art form that can do wonderful things if put in the right hands.
Quote examples
Chris Pine
American Actor
I have a romantic vision of the beautiful delineation between TV and film that existed for so many years. I romanticize the studio system and movie stars as a whole, but obviously that's just anachronistic and probably a non-reality.
Quote examples
Juan Williams
American Journalist
Yes, agriculture subsidies are far too generous. They need to be reined in because they cater to special interests while distorting free market competition. Yes, the farm laws are an anachronistic mess.
Quote examples
Garth Stein
American Author
I know in this time of great technological advancement, the idea of reading a book seems almost anachronistic, but I think it's worth preserving.
Quote examples
Paul F. Tompkins
American Comedian
Just because I have a good vocabulary, I don't think of myself as anachronistic - just because I try not to use the word 'like' every other word.
Quote examples
Trevor Paglen
American Artist
To me, traditional approaches to doing photography and thinking about photography feel increasingly anachronistic.
Quote examples
Mark Zandi
American Economist
We need to get rid of the debt ceiling law. It's anachronistic and it's a problem.
Example 1 of 10
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