What Does "Bygones" Mean? Letting Go of the Past

Bygones (noun, plural) refers to past events, grievances, or conflicts that are deliberately set aside—forgotten, forgiven, or deemed no longer relevant.

Common Usage

• "Let bygones be bygones." – An appeal to move on from past disputes.
• "They decided to bury the bygones and work together."

Nuance

It implies a mutual or unilateral decision to stop dwelling on history—often to restore a relationship, enable cooperation, or simply reduce emotional burden. It does not erase facts, but changes how they're regarded going forward.

Synonyms: the past, old scores, water under the bridge, ancient history.