yesteryear

American  

[yes-ter-yeer, -yeer] / ˈyɛs tərˈyɪər, -ˌyɪər /

noun

1. last year.

2. the recent years; time not long past.

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adverb

1. during time not long past.

yesteryear British  

/ ˈjɛstəˌjɪə /

noun

1. last year or the past in general

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adverb

1. during last year or the past in general

Etymology

Origin of yesteryear

yester- + year; apparently introduced by D.G. Rossetti (1870) to render Middle French antan (Villon)

Example Sentences

The Broncos wore throwback uniforms from 1977 — blue helmets, orange jerseys, white pants — and their defense swarmed like those “Orange Crush” days of yesteryear.

From Los Angeles Times

The company has seen the Gen Z audiences devour hits of yesteryear such as “How I Met Your Mother,” “Modern Family” and “Golden Girls.”

From Los Angeles Times

Mankind advances by tossing aside the trammels of yesteryear, be they religious or monetary.

From The Wall Street Journal

Whereas yesteryear web browsers accessed the internet through a URL and search box, future internet access will be through the chat experience and a web browser, Altman said.

From Los Angeles Times

And no call for the kinds of organized protests for which Black celebrities of yesteryear were renowned, and which often achieved complex outreach goals.

From Salon