Merriam-Webster Logo
SINCE 1828
Menu
dictionary thesaurus

backboneless

adjective
back·​bone·​less

Definition of backboneless 

1 : without backbone or a backbone

2 : spineless, pliant a backboneless submission to ill-treatment

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!

Other Words from backboneless

backbonelessness \(ˈ)⸗ˈ⸗⸗nə̇s \ noun, plural -es

First Known Use of backboneless

1870, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Keep scrolling for more

Learn More about backboneless

Share backboneless

Statistics for backboneless

Look-up Popularity

Time Traveler for backboneless

The first known use of backboneless was in 1870

See more words from the same year

Comments on backboneless

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

Show Comments  Hide Comments 

WORD OF THE DAY

millefleur

having a pattern of small flowers

Get Word of the Day daily email!

Test Your Vocabulary

Find the Cousins

  • a-large-tree-with-many-branches
  • Which pair shares a common word ancestor?
True or False

Test your knowledge - and maybe learn something along the way.

TAKE THE QUIZ
Syn City

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