Phrase guide

back end

noun · 6 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.

No pronunciation record was provided for this word.

1

noun

Meaning 1

The rear, back, or unseen portion (of something).

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Examples

  • The back end of the operation is kept out of sight of the customers.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

noun

Meaning 2

That part of a hardware or software system that is farthest from the user; the internals rather than the user interface.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Topics: computing, engineering, mathematics, natural-sciences, physical-sciences, sciences

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: front end

3

noun

Meaning 3

The latter end of any given time, especially the latter part of the year; autumn; late autumn.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: Northern-England, Scotland, UK, dialectal

Examples

  • I'll see you on the back end of tomorrow.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

4

noun

Meaning 4

Money paid on a contingent deferred basis, for example, as a proportion of the profits or revenue of a work.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: usually

Topics: entertainment, lifestyle

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

5

noun

Meaning 5

The processing of spent fuel from a nuclear reactor into reusable materials.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

6

noun

Meaning 6

the side of an object that is opposite its front

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • his room was toward the rear of the hotel

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: rear, backside

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: side, face

Narrower terms: nape, scruff, nucha, rearward

History

Etymology

No etymology was provided for this word.

Across languages

Translations

27 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Finnish: takapää — rear, back or invisible portion
  • Finnish: takaosa — rear, back or invisible portion
  • Finnish: loppupää — rear, back or invisible portion
  • Finnish: loppuosa — rear, back or invisible portion
  • Russian: за́дняя часть (zádnjaja častʹ) — rear, back or invisible portion
  • Russian: закулисье (zakulisʹje) — rear, back or invisible portion
  • Russian: кухня (kuxnja) — rear, back or invisible portion
  • Bulgarian: бакенд (bakend) — computing: part of a system that is farthest from the user
  • Bulgarian: бекенд (bekend) — computing: part of a system that is farthest from the user
  • Chinese Mandarin: 後端 /后端 (hòuduān) — computing: part of a system that is farthest from the user
  • Finnish: palvelinpuoli — computing: part of a system that is farthest from the user
  • Finnish: taustajärjestelmä — computing: part of a system that is farthest from the user
  • Finnish: back end — computing: part of a system that is farthest from the user
  • French: back-end — computing: part of a system that is farthest from the user
  • French: arrière-plan — computing: part of a system that is farthest from the user
  • Georgian: სერვერული მხარე (serveruli mxare) — computing: part of a system that is farthest from the user
  • Georgian: ბექენდი (bekendi) — computing: part of a system that is farthest from the user
  • German: Back-End — computing: part of a system that is farthest from the user
  • Japanese: バックエンド (bakkuendo) — computing: part of a system that is farthest from the user
  • Persian: پسا — computing: part of a system that is farthest from the user
  • Russian: прикладна́я часть (prikladnája častʹ) — computing: part of a system that is farthest from the user
  • Russian: бэк-э́нд (bɛk-énd) — computing: part of a system that is farthest from the user
  • Spanish: dorsal — computing: part of a system that is farthest from the user
  • Spanish: motor — computing: part of a system that is farthest from the user
  • Bulgarian: край (kraj) — latter end of any given time
  • Finnish: loppupuoli — latter end of any given time
  • Russian: по́здняя (pózdnjaja) — latter end of any given time