Anachronism
noun
Something or someone that is not in its correct historical or chronological time.
In the modern world of smartphones and computers, a typewriter seems like an anachronism.
Often appears as...
- seems like an anachronism
- consider as anachronism
noun
An error in chronology in which a person, event, etc., is assigned a date or period other than the correct one.
The actor wore a watch in the film, which is an anachronism because the film is supposed to take place in the 17th century.
Often appears as...
- is an anachronism
- noticed an anachronism
noun
Something or someone that is not in its correct historical or chronological time.
In the modern world of smartphones and computers, a typewriter seems like an anachronism.
Often appears as...
- seems like an anachronism
- consider as anachronism
noun
An error in chronology in which a person, event, etc., is assigned a date or period other than the correct one.
The actor wore a watch in the film, which is an anachronism because the film is supposed to take place in the 17th century.
Often appears as...
- is an anachronism
- noticed an anachronism
Definition 1 of 2
Pro Tip 1/3Historical Context
Consider if the item or person fits into the time period spoken about to identify anachronisms.
A character using a cellphone in a Shakespearean play is an anachronism.
Pro Tip 2/3Cultural References
Anachronisms can be intentional for humor or effect in modern retellings of historical stories.
Adding a spaceship to a medieval setting is a deliberate anachronism for comedic effect.
Pro Tip 3/3Implicit Criticism
Using 'anachronism' may subtly suggest that something is outdated and should be replaced.
Calling a school's old-fashioned rules anachronisms implies they need updating.
Pro Tip 1/3Historical Context
Consider if the item or person fits into the time period spoken about to identify anachronisms.
A character using a cellphone in a Shakespearean play is an anachronism.
Pro Tip 2/3Cultural References
Anachronisms can be intentional for humor or effect in modern retellings of historical stories.
Adding a spaceship to a medieval setting is a deliberate anachronism for comedic effect.
Pro Tip 3/3Implicit Criticism
Using 'anachronism' may subtly suggest that something is outdated and should be replaced.
Calling a school's old-fashioned rules anachronisms implies they need updating.
Pro Tip 1/3Historical Context
Consider if the item or person fits into the time period spoken about to identify anachronisms.
A character using a cellphone in a Shakespearean play is an anachronism.
Pro Tip 2/3Cultural References
Anachronisms can be intentional for humor or effect in modern retellings of historical stories.
Adding a spaceship to a medieval setting is a deliberate anachronism for comedic effect.
Pro Tip 3/3Implicit Criticism
Using 'anachronism' may subtly suggest that something is outdated and should be replaced.
Calling a school's old-fashioned rules anachronisms implies they need updating.
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Video examples
Eva Zeisel: The playful...
Then the director asked me, why do you ask all these questions? I said, I also have a pottery. So he asked me, could he please visit me, and then finally he did, and explained to me that what I did now in my shop was an anachronism,
Video examples
Eva Zeisel: The playful...
Then the director asked me, why do you ask all these questions? I said, I also have a pottery. So he asked me, could he please visit me, and then finally he did, and explained to me that what I did now in my shop was an anachronism,
Example 1 of 1
Quote examples
Lev Grossman
American Novelist
One already feels like an anachronism, writing novels in the age of what-ever-this-is-the-age-of, but touring to promote them feels doubly anachronistic. The marketplace is showing an increasing intolerance for the time-honored practice of printing information on paper and shipping it around the country.
Quote examples
Anthony Fantano
American Celebrity
For artists, looking back in time for ideas is commonplace, but there's an overwhelming sense of '70s and '80s nostalgia in California musician Ariel Pink's music. It's impossible to separate 'Round and Round' from the anachronism, and there's no loving one without loving the other.
Quote examples
Vilayanur S. Ramachandran
Indian Scientist
My interests span biology, though sometimes I feel like an anachronism, somebody from the Victorian era when there weren't so many boundaries dividing the sciences.
Quote examples
Roger Altman
American Businessman
There are a lot of anachronisms in Washington, but the need to periodically raise the debt limit by Congressional vote is certainly one of them.
Quote examples
Margrethe II of Denmark
Danish Royalty
One shouldn't write one's own epitaph. I hope people will remember me as one who did her best - and who wasn't an anachronism.
Quote examples
Dick Van Dyke
American Actor
Television's going, as far as I'm concerned, downhill, and I'm an anachronism.
Quote examples
Priti Patel
British Politician
The E.U., its institutions, structure and ways of working are an anachronism.
Quote examples
Minnie Driver
English Actress
You do a James Bond film, you're being part of an anachronism, a tradition.
Quote examples
Andrew Rosenthal
American Journalist
Datelines are kind of an anachronism. It's a little bit of an affectation.
Quote examples
Jinkx Monsoon
American Entertainer
I call myself a gorgeous anachronism.
Quote examples
Lev Grossman
American Novelist
One already feels like an anachronism, writing novels in the age of what-ever-this-is-the-age-of, but touring to promote them feels doubly anachronistic. The marketplace is showing an increasing intolerance for the time-honored practice of printing information on paper and shipping it around the country.
Quote examples
Anthony Fantano
American Celebrity
For artists, looking back in time for ideas is commonplace, but there's an overwhelming sense of '70s and '80s nostalgia in California musician Ariel Pink's music. It's impossible to separate 'Round and Round' from the anachronism, and there's no loving one without loving the other.
Quote examples
Vilayanur S. Ramachandran
Indian Scientist
My interests span biology, though sometimes I feel like an anachronism, somebody from the Victorian era when there weren't so many boundaries dividing the sciences.
Quote examples
Roger Altman
American Businessman
There are a lot of anachronisms in Washington, but the need to periodically raise the debt limit by Congressional vote is certainly one of them.
Quote examples
Margrethe II of Denmark
Danish Royalty
One shouldn't write one's own epitaph. I hope people will remember me as one who did her best - and who wasn't an anachronism.
Quote examples
Dick Van Dyke
American Actor
Television's going, as far as I'm concerned, downhill, and I'm an anachronism.
Quote examples
Priti Patel
British Politician
The E.U., its institutions, structure and ways of working are an anachronism.
Quote examples
Minnie Driver
English Actress
You do a James Bond film, you're being part of an anachronism, a tradition.
Quote examples
Andrew Rosenthal
American Journalist
Datelines are kind of an anachronism. It's a little bit of an affectation.
Quote examples
Jinkx Monsoon
American Entertainer
I call myself a gorgeous anachronism.
Example 1 of 10
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