Yesteryear

n.joyful, thoughtfulliterary

What it means

A past time remembered with affection, curiosity, or historical distance.

Reach for it when evoking the past in reflective or nostalgic prose

The exhibit revived the handmade toys of yesteryear.

playful
olden days
when an informal storybook tone is intended
not when Olden days is vague, childish, and often idealizes history.
everyday
the past
when neutral historical reference is enough
not when The past carries no nostalgic or affectionate coloring.
warm
days gone by
when gentle nostalgia suits conversational prose
not when The phrase can romanticize periods that were difficult or unjust.
professional
history
when documented past events are the subject
not when History is evidence-based and broad, not a nostalgic synonym for yesteryear.
formal
former times
when historical distance should remain neutral
not when Former times is dry and lacks yesteryear's emotional warmth.
literary
bygone days
when a vanished way of life is central
not when Bygone days is more openly nostalgic and can obscure who was excluded.
literary
yesterday
when the recent or figurative past is intended
not when Yesterday usually means the previous day and can create literal confusion.

days of yesteryear
Photographs show the market days of yesteryear without hiding the hard labor.
heroes of yesteryear
The archive places the heroes of yesteryear beside the people their stories omitted.
music of yesteryear
Young performers reworked the music of yesteryear with full attribution.

Yesteryear carries nostalgia. It should not imply that the past was better for everyone.

The definition and the example on this page are written here. The dictionaries above ground which meaning is being described, not the wording.