back load

1 of 2

noun

: a load or burden carried or suitable to be carried on the back
a back load of firewood

back-load

2 of 2

transitive verb

variants or backload
back-loaded or backloaded; back-loading or backloading; back-loads or backloads
: to assign (costs or benefits) to the late stages of something (such as a contract, project, or time period)
… in recent years, most carriers have "back-loaded" their expense charges. That means they sock you with expenses when you drop your policy …Consumer Reports, August 1993
But the tax cut is backloaded, meaning that they won't reap most of the benefits for years.James Surowiecki, New Yorker, 23 Apr. 2001

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1725, in the meaning defined above

Transitive Verb

1976, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of back load was in 1725

Love words?

You must — there are over 200,000 words in our free online dictionary, but you are looking for one that’s only in the Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary.

Start your free trial today and get unlimited access to America's largest dictionary, with:

  • More than 250,000 words that aren't in our free dictionary
  • Expanded definitions, etymologies, and usage notes
  • Advanced search features
  • Ad free!

Dictionary Entries Near back load

back-load

back load

backlog

Cite this Entry

“Back load.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/back%20load. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Love words? Need even more definitions?

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