bygone

adjective

by·​gone ˈbī-ˌgȯn 

also -ˌgän

: gone by : past

bygone days

especially : outmoded

bygone styles

bygone noun

Synonyms of bygone

• extinct
• defunct
• vanished
• gone

Examples of bygone in a Sentence

the bygone days of our ancestors

The stone wall is from a bygone age.

Recent Examples on the Web

Neither will seek to engage in the trap of nostalgia for a bygone era. — Michael Stevens, New York Daily News, 19 June 2026

Best known for Colonial Williamsburg, this charming city invites travelers to slow down and step into a bygone era. — Lauren Dana Ellman, Travel + Leisure, 15 June 2026

In this context, many proslavery Americans saw the song’s protagonist as longing not just for bygone days but for a return to slavery. — Christopher Lynch, The Conversation, 1 July 2026

Reminiscent of a bygone era, these massive ships often serve as floating ambassadors on diplomatic missions. — Karissa Waddick, USA Today, 1 July 2026

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for bygone

• anton
• argon
• axon
• baronne
• baryon
• baton
• boron
• buisson
• capon
• cardon
• chiffon
• coupon

Kids Definition

bygone

adjective

by·​gone ˈbī-ˌgȯn 

also -ˌgän

: gone by : past

a bygone era

bygone noun