backslide

1 of 2

verb

back·​slide ˈbak-ˌslīd 

backslid ˈbak-ˌslid  ; backslid or backslidden ˈbak-ˌsli-dᵊn  ; backsliding ˈbak-ˌslī-diŋ 

intransitive verb

1

: to lapse morally or in the practice of religion

2

: to revert to a worse condition : retrogress

backslide noun

backslider

ˈbak-ˌslī-dər 

noun

backslider

2 of 2

noun

back·​slid·​er ˈbak-ˌslī-dər 

: one that backslides

nor will a backslider be able to plead his former righteousness

—W. L. Wardle

Examples of backslide in a Sentence

Verb

Smokers who quit often backslide within a year.

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

And, if Tuesday’s projections prove accurate, scores could even backslide. —Rebecca Noel, Charlotte Observer, 10 June 2026

Then there’s learning loss; studies find that students backslide by around 20% over the summer, and more in lower-income families. —Abby McCloskey, Twin Cities, 4 June 2026

The European Union will unlock about $19 billion for Hungary after new Prime Minister Péter Magyar moved swiftly to reverse democratic backsliding and repair relations badly strained under Viktor Orbán. —Justin Spike, Los Angeles Times, 29 May 2026

Against the backdrop of constant progress, ordinariness feels like backsliding. —Joshua Rothman, New Yorker, 22 May 2026

Word History

First Known Use

Verb

1554, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun

1591, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for backslide

• abide
• allied
• applied
• aside
• astride
• azide
• backside
• bankside
• bastide
• bayside
• bedside
• belied

Kids Definition

backslide

verb

back·​slide ˈbak-ˌslīd 

backslid -ˌslid  ; backslid or backslidden -ˌslid-ᵊn  ; backsliding -ˌslīd-iŋ 

1

: to go back to a less religious or less moral condition

2

: to go back to a worse condition

backslide noun

backslider

-ˌslīd-ər 

noun