Back Number

B1 16+

Pronunciation: /bæk ˈnʌm.bər/

Definitions of back number

noun a previous issue or edition of a magazine or newspaper

Example Sentences

A1 I found an interesting back number of a magazine at the library.

A2 The back number of the newspaper had an article about the local sports team.

B1 She collects back numbers of vintage comic books.

B2 The library has a special section for back numbers of academic journals.

C1 The rare back number of the first edition book was sold at an auction for a high price.

C2 Historians often refer to back numbers of historical documents to research past events.

adjective referring to something that is outdated or no longer current

Example Sentences

A1 I found a back number magazine at the library.

A2 My grandmother loves listening to back number songs.

B1 The back number edition of the newspaper was full of interesting articles.

B2 She collects back number issues of vintage comic books.

C1 The back number statistics provided valuable insights for the research project.

C2 The back number documents were crucial in solving the historical mystery.

Examples of back number in a Sentence

formal The library keeps a collection of back numbers of academic journals for reference.

informal I found some interesting articles in the back numbers of this magazine.

slang I scored a back number of that comic book I used to collect.

figurative His outdated views on the topic make him a back number in the field of technology.

Grammatical Forms of back number

past tense

back numbered

plural

back numbers

comparative

more back number

superlative

most back number

present tense

back number

future tense

will back number

perfect tense

have back numbered

continuous tense

is back numbering

singular

back number

positive degree

back number

infinitive

to back number

gerund

back numbering

participle

back numbered

Origin and Evolution of back number

First Known Use: 1828 year
Language of Origin: English
Story behind the word: The term 'back number' originated from the printing industry, where it referred to a past issue of a magazine or newspaper that was no longer current.
Evolution of the word: Over time, 'back number' has come to be used more broadly to refer to something outdated or old-fashioned, not just in the context of publications.