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

Kylie Jenner has officially declared this Coachella to be all about the Y2K throwbacks. —Meg Walters, InStyle, 12 Apr. 2026

The first-time headliner’s performance could be a comeback or so much more than that — a throwback to the best days of Bieber. —Alli Rosenbloom, CNN Money, 11 Apr. 2026

In a throwback TikTok clip posted on March 29, a pregnant Norman sat at the news desk with colleague Kenneth Moton during a commercial break in a past broadcast. —Samantha Agate, Kansas City Star, 10 Apr. 2026

The contract reference triggers Lindsay’s memories of her infamous timeline, giving us a great throwback to her more unhinged days before becoming Mother Hubbard. —Ile-Ife Okantah, Vulture, 8 Apr. 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