backlash
noun · verb
Simple meaning
A negative reaction, objection or outcry.
Pronunciation
Say it like this:
baklashSay the bold part a little louder.
IPA pronunciation (US)
ˈbæklæʃ
This word is pronounced essentially the same in American and British English, so one transcription covers both.
IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) is a standard way of writing speech sounds.
Definition
Everyday modern meanings first, grouped by part of speech.
noun
figurative
A negative reaction, objection or outcry, especially of a violent or abrupt nature.
literal
A suddenly reversed or backward motion, such as of a rope or elastic band when it snaps under tension.
mechanics
The looseness through which one part of connected machinery, such as a wheel, gear, piston, or screw, can be moved without moving the connected parts, or a measurement of the distance moved thereby; either intentional (as allowance) or unintentional (from error or wear).
verb
To perform a backlash, to lash back in reaction to some cause.
Word at a Glance
- Difficulty
- C1 · Advanced (estimated)
- Frequency
- Uncommon
- Typical Use
- Varies by meaning
Word Aura™
How this word commonly comes across.
Aura for this meaning
This meaning: A negative reaction, objection or outcry, especially of a violent or abrupt nature.
Used this way, backlash is a reasonably familiar word with a faintly unfavourable edge. It comes across as direct, sometimes bluntly so.
- Emotional tone
- Slightly negative
- Formality
- Neutral
- Intensity
- Moderate
- How common
- Moderately common
- Connotation
- Sudden and forceful
- Usage feel
- Blunt and forceful
Word Aura describes common impressions, not a measurement. Tone changes with sentence, speaker, relationship and situation.
More ways to use backlash
- “There was a backlash of intolerance.”noun
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Common Patterns and Combinations
How this word naturally appears with others.
Word Family
Related forms, grouped by how they connect.
Compound terms
Established multiword terms.
Backlash by white racists against black civil rights advances.
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Dictionary data from Wiktionary via the Free Dictionary API. Simple meanings, combinations and word intelligence are built from verified reference data, no AI is used to load this page.