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 an out-of-date issue of a serial publication.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 anything out-of-date.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

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

Navy's most famed fighter plane�the hunchbacked, stubby Grumman F4F Wildcat�is a back number in aerial warfare.

From Time Magazine Archive

"Say, Barney," he said after he had removed his hat, "ain't it surprising what a back number a feller like Charles Finkman is?"

From The Competitive Nephew by Glass, Montague

Related Words

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