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

The second photo was a throwback of when Ricki was a preteen. —Hannah Sacks, People.com, 8 Oct. 2024

While this feature can be a throwback to decades prior, styled right, honey oak can be a warm accent. —Hallie Milstein, Southern Living, 8 Oct. 2024

Verb

As Sarah is thrown back into the public eye and the investigation, the woman that Bob was having an extramarital affair with goes missing too. —Carly Tagen-Dye, Peoplemag, 18 Sep. 2024

So those are the sorts of issues that US District Judge Tanya Chutkan will have to decide now that the case has been thrown back in her lap. —Taylor Wilson, USA TODAY, 5 Sep. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1883, in the meaning defined at sense 2b

Verb

1656, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 2

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