kickback

1 of 2

noun

kick·​back ˈkik-ˌbak How to pronounce kickback (audio)
1
: a return of a part of a sum received often because of confidential agreement or coercion
every city contract had been let with a ten percent kickback to city officialsD. K. Shipler
2
: a sharp violent reaction

kick back

2 of 2

verb

kicked back; kicking back; kicks back

intransitive verb

: to assume a relaxed position or attitude
also : to spend time relaxing : take it easy
spent the weekend just kicking back

Examples of kickback in a Sentence

Noun Several company executives were accused of accepting kickbacks. Verb I plan to spend the day kicking back and watching television. a good resort for people who want to kick back and watch others exercise strenuously
Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
One of Berenyi’s attorneys, Tim Schneider, said the kickback scheme only came to light because Berenyi decided to come forward. Quinlan Bentley, The Enquirer, 6 Mar. 2024 The first trial When the former Miami Beach executive’s trial ended in 2019, Esformes was found guilty of 20 of 26 counts, including paying bribes, receiving kickbacks, committing money laundering and obstructing justice. Jay Weaver, Miami Herald, 22 Feb. 2024 Only once in American history has a Cabinet secretary been impeached: William Belknap, President Ulysses Grant's war secretary, in 1876, over kickbacks in government contracts. Democrat-Gazette Staff From Wire Reports, arkansasonline.com, 29 Jan. 2024 The device hooks onto a rifle’s stock, the part of the gun that is held against the shoulder, and harnesses the energy from the gun’s kickback to bump the stock back and forth, allowing the weapon to fire faster. Abbie Vansickle, New York Times, 28 Feb. 2024 More questions were raised when one-time attorney Paul Paradis, who ghost-wrote the lawsuit filed against the city and admitted taking a kickback, told a federal judge in November that an FBI agent testified in two affidavits that Feuer perjured himself before a federal grand jury. Dakota Smith, Los Angeles Times, 22 Feb. 2024 As many as 70 current and former New York City public housing employees were charged Tuesday with accepting kickbacks from contractors in exchange for awarding city contracts, federal prosecutors in New York said. Aaron Katersky, ABC News, 6 Feb. 2024 In 1876, the House impeached Defense Secretary William Belknap over kickbacks in government contracts, but the Senate acquitted him in a trial. Democrat-Gazette Staff From Wire Reports, arkansasonline.com, 31 Jan. 2024 Belknap resigned in 1876 just before the House impeached him for corruption after finding evidence that he was involved in rampant wrongdoing, including accepting kickbacks. Karoun Demirjian, New York Times, 13 Feb. 2024
Verb
But the real fun happened inside the PEOPLE and Shutterstock photo booth, where winners, presenters and attendees kicked back for photographers during the bash. Kate Hogan, Peoplemag, 25 Feb. 2024 Take a break from art-peeping to lounge by the hotel’s sparkling pool, or kick back for a pedicure at the day spa. Angela Caraway-Carlton, Miami Herald, 23 Feb. 2024 Roast marshmallows and make s'mores on the beach, learn how to build a sandcastle like the pros with the hotel's sand sculpture lessons, or kick back in a hammock and take a nap while listening to lapping waves. Kara Franker, Southern Living, 13 Feb. 2024 Regular season action across the NBA kicks back off this week, as the NBA All-Star break in Indianapolis has come to an end. Nick Crain, Forbes, 21 Feb. 2024 After exploring the grounds, kick back in your secluded villa or enjoy a cocktail from your private lanai. Evie Carrick, Travel + Leisure, 17 Feb. 2024 Parents can kick back at Water’s Edge Pool while supervising kids at Splashaway Bay and Baby Bay. Nathan Diller, USA TODAY, 26 Jan. 2024 Or to just kick back, soak in the starry heavens above, and just be. Kc Baker, Peoplemag, 2 Feb. 2024 Come in here and be yourself, kick back with a variety of IPAs, stouts, porters, seasonal brews and more. Katie Toussaint, Charlotte Observer, 31 Jan. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'kickback.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1920, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Verb

1972, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of kickback was in 1920

Dictionary Entries Near kickback

kick back

kickback

kickball

Cite this Entry

“Kickback.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/kickback. Accessed 18 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

kickback

1 of 2 noun
kick·​back ˈkik-ˌbak How to pronounce kickback (audio)
: a secret return of part of a sum of money received

kick back

2 of 2 verb

Legal Definition

kickback

noun
kick·​back ˈkik-ˌbak How to pronounce kickback (audio)
: a payment (as of money or property) made to one in a position to open up or control a source of income for the payor
convicted of receiving kickbacks for referrals
compare bribe, payoff

Note: A kickback is specifically a payment for income received or to be received. The word is usually not restricted to a return of funds.

More from Merriam-Webster on kickback

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