backstroke

noun

back·​stroke ˈbak-ˌstrōk 

: a swimming stroke executed on the back and usually consisting of alternating circular arm pulls and a flutter kick

backstroker

ˈbak-ˌstrō-kər 

noun

Examples of backstroke in a Sentence

She got into the pool and began to do the backstroke.

She won the 50-meter backstroke.

Recent Examples on the Web

Lakeville’s Regan Smith recorded a season-best time in the 200-meter backstroke final at the World Championships on Saturday in Singapore, touching the wall in 2 minutes, 4.29 seconds. —Jace Frederick, Twin Cities, 2 Aug. 2025

In the men’s 50-meter backstroke semis, two Russians competing as neutral athletes, Kliment Kolesnikov and Pavel Samusenko, were the top qualifiers. —Zack Pierce, New York Times, 2 Aug. 2025

But one thing continued to remain the same: her dominance in the 100 backstroke category. —Paras J. Haji, Forbes.com, 29 July 2025

Also in 1912: Harry Hebner, who learned how to swim at a YMCA in Chicago, won a gold medal during the Olympics in Stockholm with a time of 1 minute, 21 seconds in the 100-meter backstroke. —Kori Rumore, Chicago Tribune, 13 July 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1863, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for backstroke

• awoke
• baroque
• bespoke
• colloque
• convoke
• evoke
• invoke
• keystroke
• kinfolk
• kinsfolk
• menfolk
• provoke

Kids Definition

backstroke

noun

back·​stroke -ˌstrōk 

: a swimming stroke made by a swimmer who lies in the water facing upward