Standard Lemma guide

backscratcher

noun · 4 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 long slender rod with a rake-like device on one end, sometimes in the form of a human hand, designed to let a person scratch their own back.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: scratcher, device

2

noun

Meaning 2

A participant in corruption, such as a briber or pay-to-play participant.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: figuratively, uncommon

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

noun

Meaning 3

a long-handled scratcher for scratching your back

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: scratcher

4

noun

Meaning 4

someone who is willing to trade favors or services for mutual advantage

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: opportunist, self-seeker

History

Etymology

From back + scratcher; also, by surface analysis, backscratch + -er.

Across languages

Translations

28 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Catalan: grataesquena — rod for scratching one's own back
  • Chinese: 抓耙仔 (jiàu-pê-á, liàu-pê-á) — rod for scratching one's own back
  • Chinese: 不求人 (put-kiû-jîn, put-kiû-lîn) — rod for scratching one's own back
  • Chinese: 孫仔手 /孙仔手 (sun-á-chhiú) — rod for scratching one's own back
  • Chinese: 阿孫手 /阿孙手 (a-sun-chhiú) — rod for scratching one's own back
  • Chinese Mandarin: 癢癢撓 /痒痒挠 (yǎngyangnáo) — rod for scratching one's own back
  • Chinese Mandarin: 笑刷兒 /笑刷儿 (xiàoshuār) — rod for scratching one's own back
  • Chinese Mandarin: 老頭樂 /老头乐 (lǎotóulè) — rod for scratching one's own back
  • Chinese Mandarin: 搔背爬 (sāobèipá) — rod for scratching one's own back
  • Dutch: ruggenkrabber — rod for scratching one's own back
  • Finnish: selänrapsutin — rod for scratching one's own back
  • French: gratte-dos — rod for scratching one's own back
  • Georgian: ქლესა (klesa) — rod for scratching one's own back
  • German: Rückenkratzer — rod for scratching one's own back
  • Hungarian: hátvakaró — rod for scratching one's own back
  • Icelandic: bakklóra — rod for scratching one's own back
  • Italian: grattaschiena — rod for scratching one's own back
  • Italian: manina — rod for scratching one's own back
  • Korean: 등긁이 (deunggeulgi) — rod for scratching one's own back
  • Korean: 등긁개 (deunggeulgae) — rod for scratching one's own back
  • Latin: scalptōrium — rod for scratching one's own back
  • Portuguese: coça-costas — rod for scratching one's own back
  • Russian: па́лка для чеса́ния спины́ (pálka dlja česánija spiný) — rod for scratching one's own back
  • Spanish: rascaespalda — rod for scratching one's own back
  • Spanish: rascador de espaldas — rod for scratching one's own back
  • Tagalog: pangamot ng likod — rod for scratching one's own back
  • Thai: ไม้เกาหลัง (máai-gao-lǎng) — rod for scratching one's own back
  • Welsh: peth crafu cefn — rod for scratching one's own back