bygone

American  

[bahy-gawn, -gon] / ˈbaɪˌgɔn, -ˌgɒn /

adjective

1. past; gone by; earlier; former.

   The faded photograph brought memories of bygone days.

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noun

1. Usually bygones. that which is past.

   Let's not talk of bygones.

idioms

1. let bygones be bygones, to decide to forget past disagreements; become reconciled.

   Let's let bygones be bygones and be friends again.

bygone British  

/ ˈbaɪˌɡɒn /

adjective

1. (usually prenominal) past; former

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noun

1. (often plural) a past occurrence

2. (often plural) an artefact, implement, etc, of former domestic or industrial use, now often collected for interest

3. to agree to forget past quarrels

Etymology

Origin of bygone

1375–1425; late Middle English (north) by-gane; see gone, by

Explanation

The adjective bygone is good for describing long-ago times. Your grandparents might enjoy looking at old photo albums and reminiscing about bygone days. A bygone era happened in the distant past, and a bygone sweetheart is an early romantic interest remembered by someone who's since lived a long life. You're most likely to see the phrase "bygone days" being used in a nostalgic way. If someone says, "Let bygones be bygones," they want to make up for long-ago slights and arguments, leaving them in the past where they belong.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

bygone

This mourning for a bygone era is a mourning for a time when Chinese families felt that if they worked hard, their lives would improve.

From BBC ● Aug. 18, 2026

That tension is itself a kind of tribute, one to a bygone era.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 18, 2026

Gibraltar Chief Minister Fabian Picardo has described the agreement as removing "the physical barriers of a bygone era of friction" while keeping "the keys to our own front door".

From Barron's ● Jul. 14, 2026

It was a crowd-pleasing moment, to be sure, but more in keeping with the bygone era of TV variety shows than with prime Broadway.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 22, 2026

In those bygone days a bishop visited the Milagro parish about once every five years, and when the bishop came he confirmed all the small fry in town.

From "The Milagro Beanfield War" by John Nichols