backwater

American  

[bak-waw-ter, -wot-er] / ˈbækˌwɔ tər, -ˌwɒt ər /

noun

1. water held or forced back, as by a dam, flood, or tide.

2. a place or state of stagnant backwardness.

   This area of the country is a backwater that continues to resist progress.

3. an isolated, peaceful place.

4. a stroke executed by pushing a paddle forward, causing a canoe to move backward.

---

backwater British  

/ ˈbækˌwɔːtə /

noun

1. a body of stagnant water connected to a river

2. water held or driven back, as by a dam, flood, or tide

3. an isolated, backward, or intellectually stagnant place or condition

---

verb

1. (intr) to reverse the direction of a boat, esp to push the oars of a rowing boat

Etymology

Origin of backwater

1350–1400; Middle English bakwateres; back ², water

Example Sentences

Since seizing power as the kingdom’s de facto ruler in 2017, Mohammed has singularly pursued the goal of transforming the kingdom from a cultural and geopolitical backwater into a force on the world stage.

From The Wall Street Journal

Under their rule, the impoverished backwater was transformed into a flashy hub of casinos and red-light districts.

From BBC

A Jewish homeland in backwaters of the Ottoman empire seemed unattainable, and pressing domestic concerns like slavery and temperance took precedence.

From The Wall Street Journal

The family is among a handful of mafias that rose to power in the 2000s and transformed the impoverished backwater town of Laukkaing into a lucrative hub of casinos and red-light districts.

From BBC

“So we’ve got to find some formula that holds the thing together a year or two, after which — after a year, Mr. President, Vietnam will be a backwater,” Kissinger said.

From Salon

Related Words

• abolish
• abrogate
• annul
• cancel
• dismantle
• invalidate
• lift
• overturn
• quash
• renege
• repeal
• retract
• reverse
• revoke
• set aside
• void