backswimmer

noun

back·​swim·​mer ˈbak-ˌswi-mər How to pronounce backswimmer (audio)
: an aquatic bug (family Notonectidae) that swims on its back

Examples of backswimmer in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
But these aquatic water scavenger beetles do not swim like the backswimmer or the larvae. New York Times, 26 July 2021 When given a choice between a silent male water strider and a mating pair with a tapping male, the backswimmer always headed towards the vibrating duo. Ed Yong, Discover Magazine, 10 Aug. 2010

Word History

First Known Use

1807, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of backswimmer was in 1807

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Backswimmer.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/backswimmer. Accessed 5 Jul. 2026.

Kids Definition

backswimmer

noun
back·​swim·​mer -ˌswim-ər How to pronounce backswimmer (audio)
: any of a family of bugs that live in the water and swim on their backs
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster