THROWBACK

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does throwback mean? 

• THROWBACK (noun)
  The noun THROWBACK has 2 senses:

1. an organism that has the characteristics of a more primitive type of that organism

2. a reappearance of an earlier characteristic

  Familiarity information: THROWBACK used as a noun is rare.

• THROWBACK (adjective)
  The adjective THROWBACK has 1 sense:

1. characteristic of an atavist

  Familiarity information: THROWBACK used as an adjective is very rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• THROWBACK (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

An organism that has the characteristics of a more primitive type of that organism

Classified under:

Nouns denoting people

Synonyms:

atavist; throwback

Hypernyms ("throwback" is a kind of...):

being; organism (a living thing that has (or can develop) the ability to act or function independently)

Sense 2

Meaning:

A reappearance of an earlier characteristic

Classified under:

Nouns denoting natural events

Synonyms:

atavism; reversion; throwback

Hypernyms ("throwback" is a kind of...):

recurrence; return (happening again (especially at regular intervals))

• THROWBACK (adjective)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Characteristic of an atavist

Synonyms:

atavistic; throwback

Similar:

regressive (opposing progress; returning to a former less advanced state)