back number
Americannoun
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an out-of-date issue of a serial publication.
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Informal. anything out-of-date.
noun
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an issue of a newspaper, magazine, etc, that appeared on a previous date
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informal a person or thing considered to be old-fashioned
Etymology
Origin of back number
An Americanism dating back to 1805–15
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
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
They thought of the year 1928; remembered that William Gibbs McAdoo was a back number in presidential politics that Governor "Al" Smith was waning in the West.
From Time Magazine Archive
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Letter of October 8, 1916 Yesterday you read of Number 30, but even that is a back number.
From An Aviator's Field Book Being the field reports of Oswald Bölcke, from August 1, 1914 to October 28, 1916 by Boelcke, Oswald
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.