Standard Lemma guide

backstabber

noun · 1 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.

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

1

noun

Meaning 1

A traitor or hypocrite, such as a co-worker or friend assumed trustworthy but who figuratively attacks when one's back is turned.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: double-crosser, snake in the grass, backstabber, betrayer, cockatrice, quisling, rat, ratter, recreant, renegade, serpent, snake, swike, traitor, treacher, treacherer, treasonist, turntippet, withersake, wolf in sheep's clothing

Antonyms: backstabbee

Narrower terms: smiling assassin

History

Etymology

From back + stabber.

Across languages

Translations

25 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Bulgarian: скрита опасност (skrita opasnost) — a traitor or hypocrite
  • Chinese Mandarin: 负心人 (fùxīnrén) — a traitor or hypocrite
  • Dutch: matennaaier — a traitor or hypocrite
  • Dutch: NSB'er — a traitor or hypocrite
  • Finnish: liero — a traitor or hypocrite
  • Finnish: selkäänpuukottaja — a traitor or hypocrite
  • Finnish: petturi — a traitor or hypocrite
  • French: hypocrite — a traitor or hypocrite
  • French: serpent — a traitor or hypocrite
  • French: faux jeton — a traitor or hypocrite
  • French: faux frère — a traitor or hypocrite
  • German: Verräter — a traitor or hypocrite
  • Greek: φίδι (fídi) — a traitor or hypocrite
  • Hindi: आस्तीन का सांप (āstīn kā sāmp) — a traitor or hypocrite
  • Icelandic: eiturnaðra — a traitor or hypocrite
  • Icelandic: rógberi — a traitor or hypocrite
  • Icelandic: slanga í paradís — a traitor or hypocrite
  • Indonesian: munafik — a traitor or hypocrite
  • Italian: ipocrita — a traitor or hypocrite
  • Japanese: 裏切り者 (uragirimono) — a traitor or hypocrite
  • Polish: żmija — a traitor or hypocrite
  • Russian: змея́ подколо́дная (zmejá podkolódnaja) — a traitor or hypocrite
  • Spanish: traidor — a traitor or hypocrite
  • Spanish: mosca muerta — a traitor or hypocrite
  • Spanish: mosquita muerta — a traitor or hypocrite