1. A person or thing that is reminiscent of or suited to an earlier time
   "His rockabilly style is a throwback to the 1950s"
    
2. An organism that has the characteristics of a more primitive type of that organism
   "The throwback displayed traits that had not been seen in the species for generations";
   - atavist
    
3. A reappearance of an earlier characteristic
   "The child's sixth toe was considered a throwback";
   - atavism, reversion
    
4. [informal] Social media post featuring an old photo or memory, typically shared on Thursdays
   "She posted a cute childhood throwback for #TBT"

1. Characteristic of an atavist
   "The throwback dew claw in many dog breeds is a simple example of a genetic trait";
   - atavistic

1. Throw back with a quick, light motion
   "She threw back her head";
   - toss back
    
2. [Brit, informal] To swallow hurriedly, greedily or in one draught
   "He threw back the entire drink in one go";
   - gulp, quaff, swig, knock back [Brit, informal], neck [Brit, informal], slug [informal]

Derived forms: throwing back, thrown back, threw back, throwbacks, throws back

See also: regressive

Type of: being, drink, flip, imbibe, organism, pitch, recurrence, reoccurrence, return, sky, toss

Encyclopedia: Throwback