throwback

1 of 2

noun

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

throw back

2 of 2

verb

threw back; thrown back; throwing back; throws back

transitive verb

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

3

: reflect

intransitive verb

: to revert to an earlier type or phase

Examples of throwback in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

In a throwback to Bad Bunny and Balvin's special guest appearances during Jennifer Lopez and Shakira's coheadlining Super Bowl performance in 2020, the rapper could offer the same invitation. —Taijuan Moorman, USA Today, 8 Feb. 2026

Phillip Faraone | Getty Images Jenner was among a group of celebrities to share a 2016 throwback on her own Instagram. —Lisa Kailai Han, CNBC, 7 Feb. 2026

The model shared a throwback photo on her Instagram Stories on February 4. —Meg Walters, InStyle, 5 Feb. 2026

Last year’s boxing boot trend set the stage for a more prim and polished throwback in 2026. —Shelby Ying Hyde, Refinery29, 4 Feb. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1883, in the meaning defined at sense 2b

Verb

1656, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 2

Rhymes for throwback

• aback
• anzac
• attack
• backpack
• backtrack
• bareback
• blackjack
• brownback
• buyback
• callback
• cognac
• comeback

Kids 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