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Anonymous Posted 20 years ago
Vocabulary

atavist and throwback distinction

What's the difference?

@ dictionary.com the definitions for these nouns are the same.
atavist: an organism that has the characteristics of a more primitive type of that organism
throwback: an organism that has the characteristics of a more primitive type of that organism

I looked up 3-4 other online dictionaries but they all give the same meaning to both words.
  

Top answer

Hi, One very big difference is that you'll hear 'throwback' commonly in everyday speech, but almost never 'atavist'. Consider Google's results: atavist = 109,000 hits throwback = almost 9 million hits Best wishes, Clive

— Clive

  • Hi, One very big difference is that you'll hear 'throwback' commonly in everyday speech, but almost never 'atavist'.
  • Consider Google's results: atavist = 109,000 hits throwback = almost 9 million hits Best wishes, Clive
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3 Answers
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Hi,

One very big difference is that you'll hear 'throwback' commonly in everyday speech, but almost never 'atavist'. Consider Google's results:

atavist = 109,000 hits

throwback = almost 9 million hits

Best wishes, Clive
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I've only ever used "atavistic" when insulting people. Often aimed at the type of people who sit down to dinner with their baseball cap on. Especially if it is on backwards. When I'm really on a roll (paricularly if the person has expressed opinions on the "proper place" for women), I'll pair it with antediluvian.

But I've never heard it used conversationally.
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I'd say atavistic is mainly for scientific conversation/publishing, while throwback is for day-to-day speak.
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