backslide

verb

back·​slide ˈbak-ˌslīd 

backslid ˈbak-ˌslid  ; backslid or backslidden ˈbak-ˌsli-dᵊn  ; backsliding ˈbak-ˌslī-diŋ 

intransitive verb

1

: to lapse morally or in the practice of religion

2

: to revert to a worse condition : retrogress

backslide noun

backslider

ˈbak-ˌslī-dər 

noun

Examples of backslide in a Sentence

Smokers who quit often backslide within a year.

Recent Examples on the Web

Widespread backsliding on protections of basic rights is taking a toll on Asian economies as growing inequality leaves poor people vulnerable to labor abuses and scams, a report by Human Rights Watch says. —Elaine Kurtenbach, Los Angeles Times, 5 Feb. 2026

On the court, this trade is pretty much a teardown event for Memphis, a commitment to a full-on rebuild after the Jackson-Desmond Bane-Ja Morant core couldn’t get past the second round of the playoffs and began backsliding in the standings once Morant’s availability and production declined. —John Hollinger, New York Times, 4 Feb. 2026

Times of amazing progress, but also worrying backslides to dogmatic tribal ideologies and an extremely uncertain future. —Jazz Monroe, Pitchfork, 13 Jan. 2026

Now is no time for backsliding on the prison. —The New Yorker, New Yorker, 12 Jan. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1554, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for backslide

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

Kids Definition

backslide

verb

back·​slide ˈbak-ˌslīd 

backslid -ˌslid  ; backslid or backslidden -ˌslid-ᵊn  ; backsliding -ˌslīd-iŋ 

1

: to go back to a less religious or less moral condition

2

: to go back to a worse condition

backslide noun

backslider

-ˌslīd-ər 

noun