Merriam-Webster Logo
SINCE 1828
Menu
dictionary thesaurus

back-of-the-envelope

adjective

Definition of back-of-the-envelope

: done quickly to provide a rough estimate : not exact
  • did a back-of-the-envelope calculation
  • His method is, in effect, a back-of-the-envelope time-and-motion study.
  • —Ian Stewart

See back-of-the-envelope defined for English-language learners

First Known Use of back-of-the-envelope

1968

in the meaning defined above

See Words from the same year
NEW! Time Traveler

Seen and Heard

What made you want to look up back-of-the-envelope? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

show hide

Love words? Need even more definitions?

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

WORD OF THE DAY

imperturbable

play

very hard to disturb or upset

Get Word of the Day daily email!

TRENDING NOW

  1. hogwash 'nonsense, balderdash'

  2. probity 'adherence to the highest principles and ideals'

  3. sequacious 'intellectually servile'

  4. inadmissible 'not capable of being allowed'

  5. oligarch, pejorative 'a member a government in which a small group exercises control especially for corrupt and selfish purposes'

SEE ALL

BROWSE DICTIONARY

back-of-the-envelope

Test Your Vocabulary

Difficult Spelling Words Quiz

  • alphabet-pasta-spelling-help
  • Which is the correct spelling?
How Strong Is Your Vocabulary?

Test your vocabulary with our 10-question quiz!

TAKE THE QUIZ
SCRABBLE® Sprint

Test Your Knowledge - and learn some interesting things along the way.

TAKE THE QUIZ

Love words? Need even more definitions?

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

Words at Play

Ask the Editors

Word Games