backwash

noun

back·​wash ˈbak-ˌwȯsh How to pronounce backwash (audio)
-ˌwäsh
Synonyms of backwashnext
1
: a backward flow or movement (as of water or air) produced especially by a propelling force
also : the fluid that is moving backward
2
: consequence, aftermath

Synonyms of backwash

Relevance
See All Synonyms & Antonyms in Thesaurus

Examples of backwash in a Sentence

a general recession was the backwash of the crisis in the housing market
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Long story short, more bleach was applied and my hair started to melt away in straggly clumps at the backwash. — Humeara Mohamed, refinery29.com, 7 June 2024 Other boats were damaged by being tossed onto the wooden piers, then floating back off on the backwash. — Ryan MacAsero, The Mercury News, 26 Dec. 2024 The heart’s four valves — two for each side — each sport cartilage leaflets that must be supple enough to open wide with forward flow, then billow closed to stop backwash. — Tony Dajer, Discover Magazine, 18 June 2022 This backwash, also known as acid reflux, irritates the lining of your esophagus. — Elizabeth Ayoola, Essence, 3 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for backwash

Word History

First Known Use

1837, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of backwash was in 1837

Rhymes for backwash

See All Rhymes for backwash

Browse Nearby Words

backward pass
backwash
backwater
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Backwash.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/backwash. Accessed 8 Jul. 2026.

Copy Citation

Kids Definition

backwash

noun
back·​wash ˈbak-ˌwȯsh How to pronounce backwash (audio)
-ˌwäsh
: backward movement (as of water or air) produced by a propelling force (as the motion of oars)

More from Merriam-Webster on backwash

Nglish: Translation of backwash for Spanish Speakers

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of gambol

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Commonly Misspelled Words

How to Use Em Dashes (—), En Dashes (–) , and Hyphens (-)
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Longest Long Words List

One-Word Oxymorons: Bittersweet, Spendthrift, and More

Ten Words Ending with a Silent ‘T’

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World
See More

Popular

See More

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Longest Long Words List
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
hangman letters and game
Hangman Lightning Round Figure out which word fits in the blanks.
See All