Phrase guide

backward compatible

adj · 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.

  • General-American: /ˌbækwɚdkəmˈpætəb(ə)l/
  • General-American: [ˌbækwɚdkəmˈpæɾəb(ə)l]
  • US: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.

1

adj

Meaning 1

Capable of interoperating with older systems.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

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

Examples

  • The new editor is backward compatible with all versions later than 1.17.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: backward incompatible

History

Etymology

Back-formation from backward compatibility.

Across languages

Translations

14 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Chinese Mandarin: 向下兼容 (xiàngxià jiānróng) — compatible with older systems
  • Danish: baglæns kompatibel — compatible with older systems
  • Finnish: taaksepäin yhteensopiva — compatible with older systems
  • French: rétrocompatible — compatible with older systems
  • Galician: retrocompatible — compatible with older systems
  • Galician: retrocompatíbel — compatible with older systems
  • Georgian: უკუთავსებადი (uḳutavsebadi) — compatible with older systems
  • German: abwärtskompatibel — compatible with older systems
  • German: rückwärtskompatibel — compatible with older systems
  • Japanese: 後方互換 (kōhō gokan) — compatible with older systems
  • Portuguese: retrocompatível — compatible with older systems
  • Russian: обра́тно совмести́мый (obrátno sovmestímyj) — compatible with older systems
  • Spanish: retrocompatible — compatible with older systems
  • Swedish: bakåtkompatibel — compatible with older systems