Phrase guide

back road

noun · 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

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  • UK: /ˈbæk ˌɹəʊd/
  • US: /ˈbæk ˌɹoʊd/

1

noun

Meaning 1

A secondary road, a little-used road, a road through rural areas sometimes used as an alternative to main roads.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Examples

  • There was too much traffic on the highway, so I used a back road. It was very scenic, but I had to keep the speed down.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

No etymology was provided for this word.

Across languages

Translations

8 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Finnish: sivutie — a secondary road, a little used road
  • Finnish: takatie — a secondary road, a little used road
  • Finnish: pikkutie — a secondary road, a little used road
  • German: Nebenstraße — a secondary road, a little used road
  • German: Seitenstraße — a secondary road, a little used road
  • Icelandic: hliðarvegur — a secondary road, a little used road
  • Icelandic: vegur fjarri alfaraleið — a secondary road, a little used road
  • Indonesian: jalan tikus — a secondary road, a little used road