yesteryear

noun

yes·​ter·​year ˈye-stər-ˌyir 

1

: last year

2

: time gone by

especially : the recent past

yesteryear adverb

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Word History of Yesteryear

Mais où sont les neiges d’antan is the refrain of a famous poem by François Villon, translated as “But where are the snows of yesteryear?” The line is understood to express a melancholy nostalgia.

The translation was by the English poet Dante Gabriel Rossetti. Both the French antan and yesteryear originally simply meant “last year,” but today their meaning has broadened to “time gone by.”

Synonyms

• auld lang syne
• history
• past
• yesterday
• yore

Examples of yesteryear in a Sentence

the simple games of yesteryear that kept children entertained for hours

Recent Examples on the Web

With the former, Hauser has crafted a wholly unique collection of garments evocative of his decades of experience in the field (and in the saddle) that harken back to yesteryear. —Chris Barilla, People.com, 6 Dec. 2024

How relevant is our content today versus yesteryear? —Manny Garcia, Austin American-Statesman, 20 Jan. 2024

Those pesky facts have not stopped the push at all levels of government to go back to yesteryear. —Philip Elliott, TIME, 9 Oct. 2024

On the flip side, Harris' debate performance and controversies around the former president about his remarks about legal immigrants in Springfield, Ohio, and affiliation with conspiracy theorist Laura Loomer might help lift the vice president's standing in yesteryear's political climate. —Tal Axelrod, ABC News, 28 Sep. 2024

Word History

Etymology

yesterday + year

First Known Use

1870, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing yesteryear

• of yesteryear

Kids Definition

yesteryear

noun

yes·​ter·​year ˈyes-tər-ˌyi(ə)r 

1

: last year

2

: the recent past