anachronistic

UK: ˌænəˈkrɒnɪstɪk | US: ˌænəˈkrɑːnɪstɪk

Definition

  1. adj. belonging to a period other than that being portrayed; chronologically misplaced

  2. adj. outdated or obsolete in style, design, or technology

Structure
ana <against>chron <time>istic <adjective suffix>
Etymology

The word "anachronistic" derives from Greek roots:

  • "ana-" (against, back) + "chronos" (time), forming "anachronism" (a chronological inconsistency).
    The suffix "-istic" (from Latin "-isticus") turns the noun into an adjective, emphasizing the quality of being out of time. Historically, it described errors in dating historical events but later expanded to describe anything incongruent with its era.
Examples

  1. The film’s use of smartphones in a 1920s setting was glaringly anachronistic.

  2. His insistence on using a typewriter seemed charmingly anachronistic in the digital age.

  3. The novel’s anachronistic dialogue made the medieval characters feel unrealistic.

  4. Critics called the architecture anachronistic for mimicking 18th-century styles.

  5. Wearing a pocket watch today might be seen as an anachronistic fashion statement.