- Biology.
- the reversion to an ancestral or earlier type or character; atavism.
- an individual having the characteristics of a remote ancestor or primitive type; an example of atavism.
- a person or thing that evokes memories or imitates something from the past (often used attributively): These chandeliers are designed as a throwback to those old-style candlelit lanterns.On their anniversary, she took to social media with a throwback photo from their wedding reception.
- an act of throwing back: A sudden ban on fish throwbacks could harm ecosystems, since a range of predator species are reliant on discarded fish as a food source.
- a setback or check.
- a person, animal, or plant that has the characteristics of an earlier or more primitive type
- a reversion to such an organism
- to revert to an earlier or more primitive type
- to force to depend (on)
