Standard Lemma guide

backhander

noun · 7 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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1

noun

Meaning 1

A glass of wine given out of turn, the bottle having been handed backwards.

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

A blow with the back of the hand.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

noun

Meaning 3

A bribe, a secret payment.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: informal

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

4

noun

Meaning 4

A shot played backhand, a backhand stroke.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Topics: ball-games, games, hobbies, lifestyle, racquet-sports, sports

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

5

noun

Meaning 5

A player who plays a backhand shot.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Topics: ball-games, games, hobbies, lifestyle, racquet-sports, sports

Examples

  • She's a terrific backhander.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

6

noun

Meaning 6

A surfer who approaches a swell with the wave behind them ("on their backhand") rather than facing the wave ("on their forehand").

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Topics: hobbies, lifestyle, sports, surfing

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

7

noun

Meaning 7

a backhanded blow

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: blow

History

Etymology

From backhand + -er (patient suffix) or -er (agent noun suffix).

Across languages

Translations

19 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Finnish: rystylyönti — blow with the back of the hand
  • German: Schlag mit dem Handrücken — blow with the back of the hand
  • Greek: ανάποδη (anápodi) — blow with the back of the hand
  • Italian: manrovescio — blow with the back of the hand
  • Italian: marrovescio — blow with the back of the hand
  • Spanish: torniscón — blow with the back of the hand
  • Finnish: lahjus — bribe, secret payment
  • German: Schmiergeld — bribe, secret payment
  • German: Bestechungsgeld — bribe, secret payment
  • German: Bakschisch — bribe, secret payment
  • German: heimliche Zahlung — bribe, secret payment
  • Italian: tangente — bribe, secret payment
  • Italian: bustarella — bribe, secret payment
  • Italian: mazzetta — bribe, secret payment
  • Māori: utu whakapati — bribe, secret payment
  • Czech: všimné — shot played backhand, a backhand stroke
  • German: Rückhandschlag — shot played backhand, a backhand stroke
  • Italian: rovescio — shot played backhand, a backhand stroke
  • Slovak: všimné — shot played backhand, a backhand stroke