setback

1 of 2

noun

set·​back ˈset-ˌbak 

1

: a checking of progress

2

: defeat, reverse

3

: pitch entry 4 sense 7

4

: a placing of a face of a building on a line some distance to the rear of the building line or of the wall below

also : the area produced by a setback

5

: automatic scheduled adjustment to a lower temperature setting of a thermostat

6

: the distance of a structure or other feature (such as a well or septic system) from the property line or other feature

set back

2 of 2

verb

set back; setting back; sets back

transitive verb

1

: to slow the progress of : hinder, delay

2

: cost

a new suit will set you back $200

Synonyms

Noun

• knock
• lapse
• reversal
• reverse

Examples of setback in a Sentence

Noun

Despite some early setbacks, they eventually became a successful company.

The explorers persevered despite suffering setbacks that would have discouraged those with lesser ambition.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Both those outcomes would be a major setback for those who want to see promotion and relegation at the top level of the American game. —Ian Nicholas Quillen, Forbes.com, 8 May 2025

Transgender troops The Supreme Court dealt a setback to transgender service members on Tuesday. —Jade Walker, CNN Money, 7 May 2025

Verb

This story takes place throughout the latter half of the 2010s, just before the pandemic, instead of being set back in the ’70s like the novel. —Destiny Jackson, Deadline, 11 May 2025

That has led to bouts of tension with the Mexican government, which insists that a unilateral attack by the Pentagon against the cartels would be a violation of Mexico’s sovereignty and set back bilateral relations by decades. —Emiliano Rodríguez Mega, New York Times, 10 May 2025

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1674, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1600, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for setback

• aback
• anzac
• attack
• backpack
• backtrack
• bareback
• blackjack
• brownback
• buyback
• callback
• cognac
• comeback

Kids Definition

setback

noun

set·​back ˈset-ˌbak 

: a slowing of progress : a temporary defeat