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
Josh Yohe, New York Times, 16 May 2026
This is probably considered a throwback by today's standards, especially on a college campus.
—Zach Dean Outkick, FOXNews.com, 14 May 2026
An affectionate throwback to overly earnest TV movies (and a knowing send-up of over-the-top bad-girl flicks), this film marks the feature debut as writer-director for comedian John Early, who also stars.
—Tracy Brown, Los Angeles Times, 14 May 2026
Opponents of the redrawn congressional district compared the undoing of the majority-Black district as a throwback to the Jim Crow era of racial discrimination in the Deep South.
—CNN Money, 13 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for throwback
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Noun
Should Colorado and Carolina meet in the Stanley Cup Final, would they both be better served to wear the Whalers and Nordiques throwbacks for at least one game in the series?
—Josh Yohe, New York Times, 16 May 2026
This is probably considered a throwback by today's standards, especially on a college campus.
—Zach Dean Outkick, FOXNews.com, 14 May 2026
An affectionate throwback to overly earnest TV movies (and a knowing send-up of over-the-top bad-girl flicks), this film marks the feature debut as writer-director for comedian John Early, who also stars.
—Tracy Brown, Los Angeles Times, 14 May 2026
Opponents of the redrawn congressional district compared the undoing of the majority-Black district as a throwback to the Jim Crow era of racial discrimination in the Deep South.
—CNN Money, 13 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 20 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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