Phrase guide

ye olde

adj · phrase · 2 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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  • thē ōld properly
  • UK: /ðiː əʊld/
  • US: /ði oʊld/
  • yē ōld commonly, spelling pronunciation
  • UK: /jiː əʊld(i)/
  • US: /ji oʊld/

1

adj

Meaning 1

Old-fashioned, antiquated, historic, especially in a contrived manner.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: not-comparable

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

phrase

Meaning 2

Pseudo-archaic form of the old, as to suggest antiquity or old tradition.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Examples

  • I'm not wasting my time going to lectures given by ye olde professor Jones.
  • Ye Olde Coffee Shoppe

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

Pseudo-loan from Middle English, derived from the + old. First attested in 1850.