anachronism

[əˈnækrənɪzəm]

anachronism Definition

a thing belonging or appropriate to a period other than that in which it exists, especially a thing that is conspicuously old-fashioned..

Using anachronism: Examples

Take a moment to familiarize yourself with how "anachronism" can be used in various situations through the following examples!

  • Example

    The use of a typewriter in the age of computers is an anachronism.

  • Example

    The knight in shining armor was an anachronism in the modern world.

  • Example

    The film set in the 1800s had several anachronisms, including a character using a cellphone.

anachronism Synonyms and Antonyms

Antonyms for anachronism

Phrases with anachronism

  • an error in chronology or timeline, where events are placed in an incorrect order

    Example

    In the movie, there was a chronological anachronism when a character referenced a historical event that had not yet happened in the timeline of the story.

  • a literary device used to intentionally place a person, object, or idea outside of its time frame

    Example

    In the novel, the author uses anachronism to create a sense of timelessness and universality in the story.

  • a technique used by artists to intentionally place objects or people from different time periods together in a single work of art

    Example

    The painting featured an anachronism, with a medieval knight standing next to a modern-day car.

Origins of anachronism

from Greek 'ana' meaning 'back' and 'khronos' meaning 'time'

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Summary: anachronism in Brief

An 'anachronism' [əˈnækrənɪzəm] is something that belongs to a different time period than the one it exists in. It can be a physical object, a concept, or an idea. Examples include a typewriter in the age of computers and a knight in shining armor in the modern world. The term can also refer to errors in chronology or timeline, as well as a literary or artistic device used to create a sense of timelessness or to juxtapose different time periods.