Standard Lemma guide

backless

adj · 3 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.

  • US: /ˈbækləs/
  • US: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
  • rhymes with -ækləs
  • CMU ARPABET: B AE1 K L AH0 S Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.

1

adj

Meaning 1

Having no back, especially where one would be expected, as with a chair or a dress.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: not-comparable

Examples

  • a backless surgical gown

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

adj

Meaning 2

Having the back uncovered, showing the skin.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: not-comparable

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

adjective

Meaning 3

lacking a back

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • a stool is a backless and armless seat

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: backed

History

Etymology

Etymology tree English back Proto-Indo-European *lewh1- Proto-Indo-European *lewHs-der. Proto-Germanic *leusaną Proto-Germanic *lausaz Proto-Germanic *-lausaz Proto-West Germanic *-laus Old English -lēas Middle English -les English -less English backless From back + -less.

Across languages

Translations

5 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Danish: rygløs — having no back
  • German: rückenfrei — having no back
  • Indonesian: bekles — having no back
  • Norwegian Bokmål: ryggløs — having no back
  • Norwegian Bokmål: barrygget — having a back that shows skin