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
Hannah Sacks, PEOPLE, 28 Oct. 2025
In an era where just about everything seems choreographed, his individual brilliance feels like a throwback.
—Aaron Tolentino, New York Times, 26 Oct. 2025
Furtado’s carousel post opened with a throwback photo of herself at 20, just before her first professional performance at Lilith Fair in 1999.
—Mitchell Peters, Billboard, 25 Oct. 2025
Debuting the Quebec Nordiques throwbacks for the first time, the Avalanche had turnover and defending troubles early and power-play struggles throughout until Nichushkin came through late to steal a point in a 5-4 shootout loss against the Carolina Hurricanes at Ball Arena.
—Corey Masisak, Denver Post, 24 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for throwback
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Noun
In August, the matriarch shared an adorable throwback video on her Instagram of her granddaughter dancing at her younger siblings Sir and Rumi's baby shower.
—Hannah Sacks, PEOPLE, 28 Oct. 2025
In an era where just about everything seems choreographed, his individual brilliance feels like a throwback.
—Aaron Tolentino, New York Times, 26 Oct. 2025
Furtado’s carousel post opened with a throwback photo of herself at 20, just before her first professional performance at Lilith Fair in 1999.
—Mitchell Peters, Billboard, 25 Oct. 2025
Debuting the Quebec Nordiques throwbacks for the first time, the Avalanche had turnover and defending troubles early and power-play struggles throughout until Nichushkin came through late to steal a point in a 5-4 shootout loss against the Carolina Hurricanes at Ball Arena.
—Corey Masisak, Denver Post, 24 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for throwback
Cite this Entry
“Throwback.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/throwback. Accessed 29 Oct. 2025.
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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