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• back end
  back end

  noun

  the rear part of something.
• back-end
  back-end

  adjective

  being or relating to those parts of a computer program, website, system, network, etc., that the user does not see or directly interact with.

back end

¹ American  

[bak end] / ˈbæk ˈɛnd /

back-end,

noun

1. the rear part of something.

   I didn’t think my stage debut would entail playing the back end of a bull!

   My eyes followed the back end of the car, watching it slowly creep up the road and out of sight.

2. the later part of a process or span of time.

   The team has a chance to turn their season around, but they face a difficult back end of the schedule.

3. Computers. the parts of a computer program, website, system, network, etc., that the user does not see or directly interact with.

   The user information has all been updated in the back end.

   Our engineers can refurbish existing backends internally, improving structure and performance without altering the external behavior of the code.

4. the part of an organization or process that operates in the background or out of the public view.

   Tell us about the back end of your business, like your accounting and data processing systems.

5. British. the last few months of the year.

   The journal was published at the back end of last year.

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back-end ² American  

[bak-end] / ˈbækˌɛnd /

Or backend

adjective

1. Computers. being or relating to those parts of a computer program, website, system, network, etc., that the user does not see or directly interact with.

   Managed website hosting is for those who do not want to bother with a lot of the back-end stuff like updating apps and enabling automatic backups.

   We’re seeking an experienced back-end developer to help complete the development of our mobile education platform.

2. being or relating to the part of an organization that operates in the background or out of the public view.

   The library is hoping to streamline many of their back-end administrative processes.

   The back-end legal and financial responsibilities of running a business are significant.

3. happening or incurred at or near the end of a process or span of time.

   We do not ever charge hidden back-end transaction fees.

   The young pitcher is shaping up to be a great middle or back-end reliever.

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back end British  

noun

1. dialect autumn

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adjective

1. (of money, costs, etc) required or incurred after a project has been completed

Etymology

Origin of back end¹

First recorded in 1590–1600

Origin of back-end²

First recorded in 1970–75

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

back end back-end

Regardless, look for the Chargers to be bland, bland, bland as they evaluate the back end of their roster and decide who to keep and who to cut.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 14, 2026

"We've probably lacked a little bit of power at the back end and it's nice to have some real six-hitters coming in and giving us some momentum," she said.

From BBC ● Jun. 20, 2026

Only last week, in the days leading up to the first Test against England, Williamson said he was "towards the back end" of his career, giving no indication that this decision was close.

From BBC ● Jun. 12, 2026

Minutes later, thanks to a carefully choreographed stocking and delivery process on the back end, the diapers were at her doorstep, to the New Delhi mom’s relief.

From The Wall Street Journal ● May 23, 2026

“I messed up before. I know it,” G’ma mutters at the dark back end of the RV.

From "Clean Getaway" by Nic Stone

For some clients, Gloo provides back-end technology, essentially serving as an IT department and applying AI across their operations.

From The Wall Street Journal ● May 14, 2026

“When we were starting our businesses, none of us had any knowledge of the back-end stuff,” Ziskin told me.

From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 28, 2026

The war could be reflected in Boeing’s earnings conference call commentary about deliveries, which could be back-end loaded.

From Barron's ● Apr. 21, 2026

Meanwhile, the back-end systems powering the venue, for cashless sales of merchandise and food, ticketing, or crowd control and safety, are also inter-connected.

From BBC ● Feb. 26, 2026

She went ben; and at that very moment, through the bit window in the back-end of the house, there came a ray of light.

From The Right Stuff Some Episodes in the Career of a North Briton by Ian Hay

Related Words

• back
• back door
• backside
• bottom
• butt
• rear end
• tail