back number

American  

noun

1. an out-of-date issue of a serial publication.

2. Informal. anything out-of-date.

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back number British  

noun

1. an issue of a newspaper, magazine, etc, that appeared on a previous date

2. informal a person or thing considered to be old-fashioned

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back number Idioms  

1. Dated, out of style. For example, That hat is really a back number, or The game has changed so fast that a player who returns to the circuit after several years' absence usually finds he or she is a back number. This term originally referred to back issues of periodicals, which are no longer newsworthy. [Late 1800s]

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Etymology

Origin of back number

An Americanism dating back to 1805–15

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

back number

The Force did hit back, number eight Richard Brown creeping over after a quick pick-and-go from captain Matt Hodgson.

From BBC ● Jun. 5, 2013

The fact that GM is back, number one, I think shows the kind of turnaround that’s possible when it comes to American manufacturing.”

From BusinessWeek ● Feb. 2, 2012

“The adults are being sent back, number one.”

From Washington Post

In his best role of recent years, James Stewart plays the stubborn, not-very-bright bush pilot, a "back number" who demonstrates leadership by guarding the water rations.

From Time Magazine Archive

Why, alongside him, Griffith's a joke in a back number of Judge.

From Linda Lee, Incorporated A Novel by Vance, Louis Joseph

Related Words

• age-old
• antique
• archaic
• hoary
• old-fashioned
• timeworn
• venerable