Standard Lemma guide

backtalk

noun · verb · 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.

  • Received-Pronunciation: /ˈbæk.tɔːk/
  • US: /ˈbæk.tɔk/
  • US: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.

1

noun

Meaning 1

Verbal impudence or argumentative discourse, given in response.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: uncountable

Examples

  • Don't give me any backtalk; just go clean your room.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

verb

Meaning 2

To respond to in an aggressively disputatious, often sarcastic or insolent manner.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: transitive

Examples

  • Peter was sent to detention for backtalking the teacher.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

noun

Meaning 3

an impudent or insolent rejoinder

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • don't give me any of your sass

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: sass, sassing, back talk, lip, mouth

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: rejoinder, retort, return, riposte, replication, comeback, counter

History

Etymology

From back + talk.

Across languages

Translations

31 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Bulgarian: дързък отговор (dǎrzǎk otgovor) — verbal impudence or argument
  • Bulgarian: остроумно възраже́ние (ostroumno vǎzražénie) — verbal impudence or argument
  • Chinese Cantonese: 駁嘴 /驳嘴 (bok3 zeoi2) — verbal impudence or argument
  • Dutch: tegenspraak — verbal impudence or argument
  • Esperanto: kontraŭparolo — verbal impudence or argument
  • Finnish: suunsoitto — verbal impudence or argument
  • French: contradiction — verbal impudence or argument
  • French: protestation — verbal impudence or argument
  • French: réponse — verbal impudence or argument
  • German: Widerworte — verbal impudence or argument
  • German: Widerrede — verbal impudence or argument
  • Irish: gearr-aighneas — verbal impudence or argument
  • Irish: gearrchaint — verbal impudence or argument
  • Irish: seanchaint — verbal impudence or argument
  • Irish: aibéil chainte — verbal impudence or argument
  • Russian: де́рзкий отве́т (dérzkij otvét) — verbal impudence or argument
  • Russian: ре́зкое возраже́ние (rézkoje vozražénije) — verbal impudence or argument
  • Russian: препира́тельство (prepirátelʹstvo) — verbal impudence or argument
  • Russian: пререка́ния (prerekánija) — verbal impudence or argument
  • Dutch: tegenspreken — disputatively or sarcastically respond
  • Esperanto: kontraŭdiri — disputatively or sarcastically respond
  • Esperanto: protesti — disputatively or sarcastically respond
  • Finnish: soittaa suutaan — disputatively or sarcastically respond
  • French: contredire — disputatively or sarcastically respond
  • French: protester — disputatively or sarcastically respond
  • French: répondre — disputatively or sarcastically respond
  • Māori: toi — disputatively or sarcastically respond
  • Māori: toitoi — disputatively or sarcastically respond
  • Quechua: kutipakuy — disputatively or sarcastically respond
  • Russian: пререка́ться (prerekátʹsja) — disputatively or sarcastically respond
  • Russian: препира́ться (prepirátʹsja) — disputatively or sarcastically respond