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
Tiffani Jackson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 1 Aug. 2025
From nostalgic throwbacks to fresh debuts, the 2025 Indiana State Fair’s free concert series is your ultimate summer playlist - live.
—Samanta Habashy, IndyStar, 31 July 2025
Homage’s apparel bears retro graphics with a vintage aesthetic, including throwbacks featuring classic sports team logos and legendary athletes from various eras.
—Tom Huddleston Jr., CNBC, 31 July 2025
Things get even more complicated with Scarlet Witch/Wanda Maximoff (Elizabeth Olsen) and the Vision (Paul Bettany), who kicked off Marvel’s streaming era with the inventive TV throwback WandaVision.
—Siddhant Adlakha, Vulture, 30 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for throwback
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Noun
From singalongs to high-energy throwbacks, this all-ages event is a nostalgic trip through the music of the early 2000s, indoors, with air conditioning.
—Tiffani Jackson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 1 Aug. 2025
From nostalgic throwbacks to fresh debuts, the 2025 Indiana State Fair’s free concert series is your ultimate summer playlist - live.
—Samanta Habashy, IndyStar, 31 July 2025
Homage’s apparel bears retro graphics with a vintage aesthetic, including throwbacks featuring classic sports team logos and legendary athletes from various eras.
—Tom Huddleston Jr., CNBC, 31 July 2025
Things get even more complicated with Scarlet Witch/Wanda Maximoff (Elizabeth Olsen) and the Vision (Paul Bettany), who kicked off Marvel’s streaming era with the inventive TV throwback WandaVision.
—Siddhant Adlakha, Vulture, 30 July 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 4 Aug. 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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