archaic

/ɑː.ˈkeɪ.ɪk/

Group 7Difficulty 1/3

Definition

(adjective)
Very old or old-fashioned; belonging to an earlier period
GRE

Example in Context

The country's archaic electoral laws, drafted in an era before mass communication, are ill-suited to the realities of modern democracy.

Synonyms

ancientoutdatedold

Etymology

Referring to something very old or outdated.

  • archaios (Greek) — ancient

Memory Aid

🛶Sounds like “are Kayak

In the museum, I saw an ARCHAIC kayak that looked like it survived the ICE AGE!

Visual Association

🏺An ancient pot sitting in a dusty corner of a museum, surrounded by cobwebs and relics.

Semantic Clusters

Synonym Groups

Frequently Asked Questions

What does “archaic” mean on the GRE?

archaic (adjective) means “Very old or old-fashioned; belonging to an earlier period”. The country's archaic electoral laws, drafted in an era before mass communication, are ill-suited to the realities of modern democracy.

How to remember “archaic” for the GRE?

Mnemonic: “archaic” sounds like “are Kayak”. In the museum, I saw an ARCHAIC kayak that looked like it survived the ICE AGE!

What are synonyms for “archaic”?

Common synonyms: ancient, outdated, old.