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

Holdover "Peter Rabbit," Sony's hybrid live-action/animation adaptation of the Beatrix Potter children's classic, held on to third place with $12.5 million in its third weekend.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 25, 2018

Holdover “Jack Reacher: Never Go Back” came in third, at $9.6 million.

From The Wall Street Journal • Oct. 30, 2016

Holdover Juwan Thompson is also working at fullback and Ronnie Hillman, who led the team in rushing last year, signed a one-year deal.

From Washington Times • May 25, 2016

Holdover “Kung Fu Panda 3” captured second place on the charts, sliding in behind “Deadpool” with $12.5 million.

From Reuters • Feb. 21, 2016

The Legislative Holdover Committee is about as useless a thing as can be imagined.

From Story of the Session of the California Legislature of 1909 by Hichborn, Franklin