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

The reversal comes after the agency’s May 21 announcement of its intent to remove hundreds of deep-sea buoys and sensors employed by the $368-million Ocean Observatories Initiative had drawn congressional and international backlash. —Dan Vergano, Scientific American, 18 June 2026

The president lobbed a bomb at lawmakers over his pick to lead national intelligence after bipartisan backlash. —Phaedra Trethan, USA Today, 18 June 2026

There's growing backlash after a Medfield, Massachusetts Select Board member's comments about the pride flag at a public meeting Tuesday night. —Tammy Mutasa, CBS News, 18 June 2026

The ensuing public backlash led the Senate on Wednesday to unanimously agree with a measure that would block the government from taking down the OOI. —John Timmer, ArsTechnica, 18 June 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1815, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing backlash

• anti-backlash

Rhymes for backlash

• chumash
• eyelash
• moustache
• mustache
• noncash
• potash
• rehash
• whiplash
• ash
• bash
• brash
• cache

Kids Definition

backlash

noun

back·​lash ˈbak-ˌlash 

: a reaction against some political or social development