Phrase guide

back pay

noun · 2 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

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No pronunciation record was provided for this word.

1

noun

Meaning 1

A withheld payment for work which has already been completed, or which could have been completed had the employee not been prevented from doing so.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: countable, uncountable

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

noun

Meaning 2

Pay received by an employee from an increase awarded retrospectively, and backdated.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: countable, uncountable

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

From back + pay.

Across languages

Translations

4 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Chinese Mandarin: 補薪 /补薪 (bǔxīn) — withheld payment for work
  • Finnish: pidätetty palkka — withheld payment for work
  • Russian: заде́ржка зарпла́ты (zadéržka zarpláty) — withheld payment for work
  • Yoruba: owó àtẹ̀yìnwá — withheld payment for work