throw·back
ˈthrō-ˌbak 
1
: one that is suggestive of or suited to an earlier time or style
his manners were a throwback to a more polite era
2
a
: reversion to an earlier type or phase : atavism
b
: an instance or product of atavistic reversion
threw back; thrown back; throwing back; throws back
1
: to delay the progress or advance of : check
2
: to cause to rely : make dependent
… they are thrown back upon … native intelligence …—
Michael Novak
Michael Novak3
: reflect
: to revert to an earlier type or phase
Examples of throwback in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Scott Fowler, Charlotte Observer, 22 May 2026
Undoubtedly, though, the game has changed, moving into uncharted territory that’s also a bit of a throwback.
—Chad Jennings, New York Times, 21 May 2026
Machado-Graner and de Givry talked to THR about Goodbye Cruel World, its inspirations and how the film is a throwback to another period in cinema history.
—Georg Szalai, HollywoodReporter, 18 May 2026
More to Explore Many of the human props—canes, top hats, desks—used in primate taxidermy became unfashionable in the first half of the nineteenth century, but there were still throwbacks.
—Matthew Wills, JSTOR Daily, 18 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for throwback
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Noun
Like Earnhardt, Busch was a throwback who moved the needle.
—Scott Fowler, Charlotte Observer, 22 May 2026
Undoubtedly, though, the game has changed, moving into uncharted territory that’s also a bit of a throwback.
—Chad Jennings, New York Times, 21 May 2026
Machado-Graner and de Givry talked to THR about Goodbye Cruel World, its inspirations and how the film is a throwback to another period in cinema history.
—Georg Szalai, HollywoodReporter, 18 May 2026
More to Explore Many of the human props—canes, top hats, desks—used in primate taxidermy became unfashionable in the first half of the nineteenth century, but there were still throwbacks.
—Matthew Wills, JSTOR Daily, 18 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for throwback
Cite this Entry
“Throwback.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/throwback. Accessed 27 May. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
throwback
noun
throw·back
ˈthrō-ˌbak
: something that has changed back to an earlier type or phase
Medical Definition
throwback
noun
throw·back
ˈthrō-ˌbak
1
: reversion to an earlier type or phase : atavism
2
: an instance or product of atavistic reversion
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