backhand

[ bak-hand ]

/ ˈbækˌhænd /

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See synonyms for: backhanded on Thesaurus.com

noun

a stroke, slap, etc., made with the palm of the hand turned toward the body and the back of the hand turned in the direction of the stroke, slap, etc.

(in tennis, squash, etc.) a stroke made from the side of the body opposite to that of the hand holding the racket, paddle, etc.

handwriting that slopes toward the left.

adjective

backhanded.

(in tennis, squash, etc.) of, relating to, or noting a stroke made from the side of the body opposite to that of the hand holding the racket, paddle, etc.Compare forehand (def. 1).

adverb

with the back of the hand: He hit him backhand across the face.

from across the body; backhanded: She returned the ball backhand on the first serve.

verb (used with object)

to strike with the back of the hand.

to hit, produce, or accomplish with a backhand.

to catch (a ball or the like) backhanded.

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His boss, whom he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

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Origin of backhand

First recorded in 1650–60; back² + hand

Words nearby backhand

background music, background processing, background projection, background radiation, back hack, backhand, backhanded, backhander, backhaul, backhoe, backhouse

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use backhand in a sentence

He unleashed a 129-miles-per-hour rocket that could only backhand into the net.
Novak Djokovic Fell Short of a Grand Slam. All That Winning Could Be Too Much to Ask|Sean Gregory|September 13, 2021|Time
Aim and release from your hand the way you might backhand a frisbee, but put some spin on it with your forefinger and watch your stone skippity-skip, once, twice or thrice across the water!
The Joy Of Idle Living|Sohini Das Gupta|August 29, 2021|Ozy
Wilson beat Ullmark with a slick backhand shot, and his shorthanded goal in the second period held up as the eventual game-winner in the Capitals’ 3-1 victory.
Tom Wilson, Vitek Vanecek lead the Capitals to a 3-1 win over the Sabres|Samantha Pell|February 19, 2021|Washington Post
I think he has one of the best backhands I have seen from an American in a long time.
Aslan Karatsev is the latest qualifier to go from unknown to Grand Slam party crasher|Chuck Culpepper|February 17, 2021|Washington Post

Tsitsipas closed the victory on his third match point, with a backhand winner down the line.
Rafael Nadal toppled by Stefanos Tsitsipas at Australian Open|Liz Clarke|February 17, 2021|Washington Post
There are three full-time tennis aces on site who are more than happy to improve your backhand or perfect that serve.
Gal With a Suitcase|Jolie Hunt|February 20, 2011|DAILY BEAST
From the moment he caught sight of her, he did not turn or take his eyes and face from her, defending himself with backhand blows.
Four Arthurian Romances|Chretien DeTroyes
I would suggest that we go through the forehand and backhand strokes to make certain that we are right.
The Meadow-Brook Girls on the Tennis Courts|Janet Aldridge
One of the detectives took the woman by the arm; she jerked it loose and aimed a backhand slap at him.
Time Crime|H. Beam Piper
In forehand play the bowl as it courses to the jack describes its segment of a circle on the right, in backhand play on the left.
Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 4, Slice 3|Various
The first blow, aimed backhand at his bare right leg, struck his shield instead.
Triplanetary|Edward Elmer Smith

British Dictionary definitions for backhand

backhand

/ (ˈbækˌhænd) /

noun

sport

a stroke made across the body with the back of the hand facing the direction of the stroke
(as modifier)a backhand return

the side on which backhand strokes are made

handwriting slanting to the left

adverb

with a backhand stroke

verb (tr)

sport to play (a shot) backhand

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012