holdover

American  

[hohld-oh-ver] / ˈhoʊldˌoʊ vər /

noun

1. a person or thing remaining from a former period.

2. Printing. overset that can be kept for future use.

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Etymology

Origin of holdover

1885–1890, noun use of verb phrase hold over

Explanation

A holdover is something that has stuck around for a long time. A law that forbids women from wearing patent leather shoes in public is a holdover from a very different era. The noun holdover comes up often in politics. A member of a former president's cabinet who keeps her job even after a new president is elected may be referred to as a holdover from the previous administration. A gym teacher's habit of barking out instructions to his elementary school students might be a holdover from his army days.

Example Sentences

Land power is a vital part—not as a legacy holdover, but as a hedge against uncertainty and a foundation for political effect.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 3, 2026

Miran can stay on as a holdover until a successor is confirmed, but that seat is spoken for—it is the vehicle for installing the new chair.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 29, 2026

The Palisades fire, which devastated the communities of Pacific Palisades, Malibu and Topanga, was a holdover from the Lachman fire, which federal prosecutors say was intentionally set on Jan. 1.

From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 1, 2025

Some research has indicated that holdover fires, which can survive underground amid snow and rain, are becoming more common in high northern latitudes as the climate warms.

From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 1, 2025

The first baseman charged the ball, and Herbie, perhaps acting on some latent instinct that was a holdover from a previous incarnation, stumbled over to cover the bag at first, in itself a good idea.

From "The Milagro Beanfield War" by John Nichols