Standard Lemma guide

backbiter

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

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.

  • /ˈbæk.baɪt.ə(ɹ)/
  • US: /ˈbæk.baɪt.ɚ/
  • US: [ˈbæk.baɪɾ.ɚ]
  • US: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.

1

noun

Meaning 1

A person who says nasty things about another person behind the second person's back: that is, out of their sight and hearing.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

noun

Meaning 2

one who attacks the reputation of another by slander or libel

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: defamer, maligner, slanderer, vilifier, libeler, traducer

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: detractor, disparager, depreciator, knocker

History

Etymology

From Middle English bakbitere, bakbytere, bacbitere, equivalent to backbite + -er.