Archaism

Pronunciation: /ˈɑɹˈtʃɑˈɪzəm/

Archaism (noun)

  1. A word, phrase, or style that people use in the past but sounds old or unusual today.
  2. A feature in a text that shows an earlier time, often used to create a historical feeling.

Examples

  • An archaism can sound strange in everyday conversation.
  • She avoided an archaism when speaking to new customers.