backdoor

American  

[bak-dawr] / ˈbækˈdɔr /

noun

1. a door at the rear of a house, building, etc..

   Fans were waiting by the backdoor of the theater, hoping to catch a glimpse of the band.

2. a secret, furtive, or illicit manner or means.

   The business has a backdoor through which the board of directors can access slush fund money.

3. an indirect manner or means.

   Marriage counseling was a kind of backdoor into therapy, where I finally faced my dysfunctional relationship with my mother.

4. Computers. a secret access point or undocumented vulnerability in a software program, hardware component, or digital network, sometimes intentionally maintained as for remote developer access, but also sometimes created or exploited for unauthorized access by hackers.

   If half of all devices have disclosed backdoors, cybersecurity experts must assume that the number of devices affected by undisclosed or malicious backdoors is much higher.

5. Slang: Usually Vulgar. anus.

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adjective

1. secret; furtive; illicit.

   Special interests pushed through a backdoor contract before the bidding period had expired.

2. indirect.

   The immigration reform bill included backdoor amnesty for employed undocumented residents.

3. Computers. relating to, using, or noting an indirect access point into a network, computer, or program.

   Hackers used a Trojan horse to establish backdoor access to the mainframe.

4. Slang: Vulgar. anal.

Etymology

Origin of backdoor

First recorded in 1520–30; back ¹ ( def. ) + door

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

backdoor

That backdoor, however, is far lengthier and more expensive than the Yanbu-Red Sea route.

From MarketWatch ● Sep. 11, 2026

U.S. export controls have pushed Chinese companies to seek Nvidia chips through backdoor routes, as Taiwan tries to find ways to clamp down.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 25, 2026

But Sir Brian Leveson, the Investigatory Powers Commissioner, who provides independent oversight of the use of surveillance powers, has previously criticised media use of the term "backdoor", external.

From BBC ● Aug. 4, 2026

Separately, your husband’s consulting income may make him eligible for a “mega backdoor Roth” if his employer’s plan allows after-tax contributions and in-service Roth conversions.

From MarketWatch ● Jul. 20, 2026

I pushed through the backdoor to the Lockton kitchen, still fussing about selfish captains who only thought of their own skins.

From "Chains" by Laurie Halse Anderson

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Related Words

• classified
• covert
• furtive
• hush-hush
• mysterious
• obscure
• private
• secluded
• undercover
• underground
• undisclosed
• unknown
• unpublished

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