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 an out-of-date issue of a serial publication.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 anything out-of-date.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 adults are being sent back, number one.”

From Washington Post

Take Castro, who said the Marlins’ “games back” number and the things written about them don’t bother him: “I don’t have to put it in my mind, because I can’t control the situation.”

From Washington Post

“Get his strength back, number one, and then we’ll go from there.”

From Washington Post

Third, 911 public awareness campaigns should align expectations between callers and call-takers as to the types of questions callers will face when reporting suspicious activity, including asking for the caller’s name and call back number to ensure greater accountability.

From Washington Post

While the Panthers didn’t call the defensive back’ number on offense last week, Penn State is expecting a healthy dose of the shifty playmaker, especially on the perimeter.

From Washington Times

Related Words

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