backlash

noun

back·​lash ˈbak-ˌlash 

1

a

: a sudden violent backward movement or reaction

b

: the play between adjacent movable parts (as in a series of gears)

also : the jar caused by this when the parts are put into action

2

: a snarl in that part of a fishing line wound on the reel

3

: a strong adverse reaction (as to a recent political or social development)

backlasher noun

Examples of backlash in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

But after three years of record interdictions of migrants at the U.S.-Mexico border and the accompanying political backlash, the Biden administration has embraced broad asylum limits. —Camilo Montoya-Galvez, CBS News, 4 Sep. 2024

That proposal has drawn backlash from the business community and some economists. —Rebecca Picciotto, CNBC, 3 Sep. 2024

But in the past, RMS Titanic has faced backlash for removing about 5,500 artifacts from the shipwreck site, per the New York Times’ Sara Ruberg. —Rudy Molinek, Smithsonian Magazine, 3 Sep. 2024

In addition to the queuing and technical problems, there’s also been backlash about the prices. —Rebecca Schneid, TIME, 1 Sep. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1815, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing backlash

• anti-backlash

Kids Definition

backlash

noun

back·​lash ˈbak-ˌlash 

: a reaction against some political or social development