fogey
C1Informal, mildly pejorative
Definition
Meaning
A person who is old-fashioned and resistant to change, often with conservative or set ideas.
A person, often but not exclusively older, who clings stubbornly to outdated habits, styles, or opinions and disapproves of modern trends.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
The term implies a degree of stubbornness and a lack of openness to new ideas. It is often used humorously or affectionately, but can be critical. The alternative spelling 'fogy' is also accepted.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Slight preference for spelling 'fogey' in UK and 'fogy' in US, though both are understood. Concept and usage are identical.
Connotations
Identical connotations in both varieties. The word carries a slightly humorous, caricatured image.
Frequency
Low frequency in both, but slightly more common in British media and political/social commentary.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[be] a ~[act/sound like] a ~[dismiss someone as] a ~Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Old fogey”
- “Young fogey (for a surprisingly old-fashioned young person)”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Rarely used formally. May appear in informal critique of management resistant to new technology.
Academic
Very rare in formal texts. Might appear in social history or cultural critique.
Everyday
The primary context. Used in conversation and informal writing to describe a person.
Technical
Not used.
Examples
By Part of Speech
adjective
British English
- His fogeyish views on vinyl records are quite endearing.
- She dismissed the proposal with a fogeyish sigh.
American English
- His fogyish attitude toward smartphones is holding the team back.
- That's a pretty fogyish way to look at it.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- My grandad is such an old fogey; he refuses to use a mobile phone.
- Don't be a fogey about the new software – just try it!
- The committee was dominated by fogeys who vetoed any proposal for modernising the office layout.
- Despite being only thirty, he's a young fogey with his passion for vintage cufflinks and disdain for social media.
- The columnist was often dismissed as a reactionary fogey for his scathing critiques of contemporary art.
- His fogeyish insistence on formal memoranda in an age of instant messaging created needless bureaucracy.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of 'FOG' blocking the view of new ideas + 'EY' as in a sleepy eye. An old FOGey is stuck in the fog of the past.
Conceptual Metaphor
A PERSON IS A RELIC / A PERSON IS A FOSSIL.
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not confuse with 'туман' (fog). The word is unrelated. A closer conceptual match is 'консерватор' or 'ретроград', but 'fogey' is more informal and personal.
Common Mistakes
- Spelling confusion: 'fogie', 'fogey', 'fogy'. All are accepted, but 'fogey' is most common in UK. Incorrectly using it for someone who is simply old, without the connotation of being stubbornly old-fashioned.
Practice
Quiz
Which phrase best describes a 'young fogey'?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
'Conservative' is a neutral, broad term for political or social leaning. 'Fogey' is informal, personal, and implies a stubborn, often humorous, attachment to the past in personal habits and tastes.
It is mildly pejorative but often used humorously or affectionately. Context and tone are key. Calling someone a 'lovable old fogey' is different from calling them 'a stubborn fogey'.
Yes, the term 'young fogey' is well-established for a young person who adopts traditionally old-fashioned manners, styles, or opinions.
The etymology is uncertain. It first appeared in the late 18th century, possibly related to the earlier slang term 'foggy' meaning 'flabby' or 'moss-grown', or from 'fogram', another old term for a dull old fellow.