You say that something is an anachronism when you think that it is out of date or old-fashioned.
The President tended to regard the Church as an anachronism.
2. countable noun
An anachronism is something in a book, play, or film that is wrong because it did not exist at the time the book, play, or film is set.
I noticed repeated linguistic anachronisms, which occur in every episode.
anachronism in British English
(əˈnækrəˌnɪzəm)
noun
1.
the representation of an event, person, or thing in a historical context in which it could not have occurred or existed
2.
a person or thing that belongs or seems to belong to another time
she regards the Church as an anachronism
Derived forms
anachronistic (aˌnachroˈnistic)
adjective
anachronistically (aˌnachroˈnistically)
adverb
Word origin
C17: from Latin anachronismus, from Greek anakhronismos a mistake in chronology, from anakhronizein to err in a time reference, from ana- + khronos time
anachronism in American English
(əˈnækrəˌnɪzəm)
noun
1.
the representation of something as existing or occurring at other than its proper time, esp. earlier
2.
anything that is or seems to be out of its proper time in history
Derived forms
anachronistic (aˌnachroˈnistic)
adjective or aˈnachronous (əˈnækrənəs)
anachronistically (aˌnachroˈnistically)
adverb
Word origin
MGr anachronismos < anachronizein, to refer to a wrong time < Gr ana-, against + chronos, time
Examples of 'anachronism' in a sentence
anachronism
At least one department has decreed that the form of address has become an anachronism.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
It can be argued that they are an anachronism in a world where both partners work.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
If your character stands in the biblical world, be careful to avoid anachronism.
Christianity Today (2000)
They wear a literal fancy dress that is a historical anachronism, and have not a single clue why they are doing it.