Standard Lemma guide

back-of-the-envelope

adj · 1 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.

  • Received-Pronunciation: /ˌbæk‿əv ðiː ˈɛnvələʊp/
  • Received-Pronunciation: /-ˈɒnvələʊp/
  • Received-Pronunciation: /-ˈɒnvləʊp/
  • General-American: /ˌbæk‿əv ði ˈɛnvəˌloʊp/
  • General-American: /-ˈɑnvəˌloʊp/
  • General-American: /-ɛnvəˌlop/
  • Australia: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.

1

adj

Meaning 1

Especially of a calculation, estimation, or other reasoning, or an idea: approximate, rough, simplified.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: idiomatic, informal

Examples

  • We can do some back-of-the-envelope calculations before all the facts come in.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: back-of-the-fag-packet, back-of-the-napkin

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

A reference to a calculation or an idea that occurs to one being jotted down on an available scrap of paper, such as the back of an envelope.

Across languages

Translations

10 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Chinese Mandarin: 粗略的 (cūlüè de) — especially of a calculation, estimation, or other reasoning, or an idea: approximate, rough, simplified
  • Finnish: ruutupaperi- — especially of a calculation, estimation, or other reasoning, or an idea: approximate, rough, simplified
  • French: à l'arrache — especially of a calculation, estimation, or other reasoning, or an idea: approximate, rough, simplified
  • French: de coin de table — especially of a calculation, estimation, or other reasoning, or an idea: approximate, rough, simplified
  • French: vite fait — especially of a calculation, estimation, or other reasoning, or an idea: approximate, rough, simplified
  • German: Bierdeckel- — especially of a calculation, estimation, or other reasoning, or an idea: approximate, rough, simplified
  • German: hingekritzelt — especially of a calculation, estimation, or other reasoning, or an idea: approximate, rough, simplified
  • German: Schmierzettel- — especially of a calculation, estimation, or other reasoning, or an idea: approximate, rough, simplified
  • Portuguese: à pressa — especially of a calculation, estimation, or other reasoning, or an idea: approximate, rough, simplified
  • Portuguese: em cima do joelho — especially of a calculation, estimation, or other reasoning, or an idea: approximate, rough, simplified