Anachronism
/əˈnækrəˌnɪzəm/
nounC1
Definition
An anachronism is when something from one time period appears in another time where it does not fit. For example, a modern watch in a movie set in the 1800s is an anachronism. It can happen with objects, words, or ideas that are not correct for the time shown.
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See It in Action
Something out of its correct historical time
- •The sword in the film was an anachronism because it was made with modern steel.
- •Using a laptop in a story about the 1700s is an anachronism.
- •The costume had an anachronism: a wristwatch on a Viking warrior.
An idea or practice that is outdated or old-fashioned in current times (less common)
- •Some people see using typewriters today as an anachronism.
- •The belief in old superstitions can feel like an anachronism in modern society.
Make It Stick
- ✓Think of "anachronism" like "mistake in time," but more specific—it means something is in the wrong time, not just wrong in general.
- ✓Picture a knight in shining armor holding a smartphone—that phone does not belong in the old times.
- ✓It feels strange or funny when you see anachronisms because you expect things to match their time.
- ✓Sounds like "an-ACK-ro-nism" → imagine a clock ticking backward ("ack!") because time is mixed up.
- ✓In stories or movies, anachronisms happen when creators forget to remove modern things from old settings.
- ✓NOT like "history" (correct time) — anachronism is the opposite: wrong or mixed-up time.
- ✓NOT like "old" or "ancient" — anachronism is about time mistakes, not age itself.
Try Other Words
- •Time error: an error related to time (Use when explaining simply what anachronism means)
- •Historical mistake: something wrong in history or time (Use when talking about wrong objects or ideas in history)
- •Out of date: old or no longer used (Use when the meaning is about old-fashioned ideas or things)
Unboxing
- •Word parts: "ana-" (against, backward) + "chron" (time) + "-ism" (condition or state)
- •Etymology: From Greek "anachronismos," meaning "against time"
- •Historical development: First used in English in the 17th century to describe things placed in the wrong time
- •Modern usage: Used in history, literature, movies, and everyday talk to describe time mistakes or outdated things
Reflect & Connect
•Can an anachronism ever be used on purpose in stories or movies? Why would creators do this?
•How do anachronisms help or hurt our understanding of history or culture?
Fill in the blanks
1.A wristwatch in a medieval movie is an anachronism because it ___ to the wrong time period.
2.When a writer uses modern words in a story set long ago, it creates an ___ that feels strange.
3.Anachronisms often happen because people forget to ___ things that do not belong in the past.
4.Unlike a simple mistake, an anachronism always involves a ___ error.
5.Some old-fashioned ideas today are called anachronisms because they seem ___ in modern life.
6.If a movie shows a character using a smartphone in ancient Rome, viewers will notice the ___ immediately.
7.To avoid anachronisms, historians and filmmakers check the ___ of objects and language carefully.