backside

noun

back·​side ˈbak-ˌsīd 

1

informal

a

: the part of the body that a person sits on : buttocks

I slid down on my backside, heaving or rowing myself with my arms and using my good leg for steering …

—Oliver Sacks

b

: the part of the body of a four-legged animal corresponding to the buttocks : rump sense 1a

… admits she hit the dog's backside but denies hitting it on the head.

—Ann Krueger

2

or back side : the side or surface opposite the front or face of something : the farthest or reverse side : back

A tight, rocky couloir drops down the backside of the peak …

—Mike Beaudry

The guy with the clipboard pulled me over, pointed to an innocuous little knob on the back side of the engine and said it's part of the computer and needs to be replaced.

—Tom and Ray Magliozzi

3

or back side

a

: the side opposite the homestretch on a racecourse : backstretch

When challenged on the backside the final time around, Tudor Palm would have no part of it, and burst to the lead again.

—Jackie Burke

b

: the part of a playing field or court (as in football or basketball) that is away from where the main action or play is occurring

—often used before another noun

a backside tackle

c

: the final 9 holes of an 18-hole golf course

The duo had a little trouble on the backside, though, as they bogeyed the par-3 11th hole.

—Brian Girasoli

Synonyms

• cheeks
• tail
• seat
• bum
• rump
• rear
• bottom

Examples of backside in a Sentence

our backsides were sore after sitting on those hard benches for so long

Recent Examples on the Web

The Colts neutralized the reigning defensive player of the year’s effectiveness by running him to death over the middle and pinning him on the backside of 6-foot-5 rookie tight end Tyler Warren on a couple of plays. —Luca Evans, Denver Post, 15 Sep. 2025

One photo even showed the Saturday Night Live writer with his hand on his wife's backside. —Michelle Lee, PEOPLE, 15 Sep. 2025

The statement-making backless dress was embellished with elaborate beadwork and a decorative clasp at her upper back, while also revealing her backside. —Charles Trepany, USA Today, 13 Sep. 2025

These moves—like rows, pull-ups, and deadlifts—naturally recruit backside players like your rear delts, rhomboids, glutes, and hamstrings. —Erica Sloan, SELF, 11 Sep. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Rhymes for backside

• abide
• allied
• applied
• aside
• astride
• azide
• bankside
• bastide
• bayside
• bedside
• belied
• beside

Kids Definition

backside

noun

back·​side ˈbak-ˈsīd 

informal

: buttock sense 2a

Medical Definition

backside

noun

back·​side -ˌsīd 

: buttocks

—often used in plural