Standard Lemma guide

backspace

noun · verb · 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

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.

  • /ˈbækˌspeɪs/
  • US: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.

1

noun

Meaning 1

The key on a typewriter that moves the head one position 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 keyboard key used for removing a character behind the cursor, and moving the cursor one position backwards.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Topics: computing, engineering, mathematics, natural-sciences, physical-sciences, sciences

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

noun

Meaning 3

A non-printable text character representing a backspace.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Topics: computing, engineering, mathematics, natural-sciences, physical-sciences, sciences

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: mul:\b

Antonyms: none provided

4

verb

Meaning 4

To remove a character behind a cursor.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Topics: computing, engineering, mathematics, natural-sciences, physical-sciences, sciences

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

5

verb

Meaning 5

To move a magnetic tape to a previous block.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Topics: computing, engineering, mathematics, natural-sciences, physical-sciences, sciences

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

6

noun

Meaning 6

the typewriter key used for back spacing

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: backspace key, backspacer

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: key

7

verb

Meaning 7

hit the backspace key on a computer or typewriter keyboard

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • To erase, you must backspace

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: type, typewrite

History

Etymology

From back + space.

Across languages

Translations

51 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Esperanto: retropaŝo — typewriter key
  • Finnish: askelpalautin — typewriter key
  • French: retour arrière — typewriter key
  • German: Backspace — typewriter key
  • German: Rücktaste — typewriter key
  • German: Rücksetztaste — typewriter key
  • Japanese: バックスペースキー (bakkusupēsu kī) — typewriter key
  • Japanese: バックスペース (bakkusupēsu) — typewriter key
  • Korean: 백스페이스 키 (baekseupeiseu ki) — typewriter key
  • Korean: 백스페이스 (baekseupeiseu) — typewriter key
  • Marathi: बॅकस्पेस (bĕkaspes) — typewriter key
  • Polish: backspace — typewriter key
  • Romanian: tastă backspace — typewriter key
  • Romanian: backspace — typewriter key
  • Spanish: retroceso — typewriter key
  • Swedish: backsteg — typewriter key
  • Swedish: backstegstangent — typewriter key
  • Swedish: backslagstangent — typewriter key
  • Turkish: geri tuşu — typewriter key
  • Turkish: silme tuşu — typewriter key
  • Vietnamese: phím lùi — typewriter key
  • Bengali: ব্যাকস্পেস (bêkośpes) — computer key
  • Finnish: askelpalautin — computer key
  • Finnish: backspace-näppäin — computer key
  • French: retour arrière — computer key
  • German: Backspace — computer key
  • German: Rücktaste — computer key
  • German: Rücksetztaste — computer key
  • Japanese: バックスペースキー (bakkusupēsu kī) — computer key
  • Japanese: バックスペース (bakkusupēsu) — computer key
  • Korean: 백스페이스 키 (baekseupeiseu ki) — computer key
  • Korean: 백스페이스 (baekseupeiseu) — computer key
  • Marathi: बॅकस्पेस (bĕkaspes) — computer key
  • Polish: backspace — computer key
  • Portuguese: backspace — computer key
  • Portuguese: retrocesso — computer key
  • Portuguese: (tecla de) retroceder — computer key
  • Portuguese: (tecla de) recuo — computer key
  • Portuguese: (tecla de) apagar — computer key
  • Romanian: tastă backspace — computer key
  • Romanian: backspace — computer key
  • Spanish: retroceso — computer key
  • Spanish: (tecla de) borrar — computer key
  • Turkish: geri tuşu — computer key
  • Turkish: silme tuşu — computer key
  • Vietnamese: phím xóa lùi — computer key
  • Vietnamese: phím lùi — computer key
  • Finnish: kumittaa — remove a character
  • Icelandic: hopa — remove a character
  • Polish: usuwać znaki w edytorze tekstu — remove a character
  • Polish: usunąć znaki w edytorze tekstu — remove a character