backset
Americannoun
-
New England, Southern, and South Midland U.S.
-
a setback; relapse; reverse.
-
an eddy or countercurrent.
-
-
(on a lock on a door or the like) the horizontal distance between the face through which the bolt passes and the center line of the knob stem or keyhole.
Etymology
Origin of backset
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Shares of the world’s largest tech companies have taken a backset this year to beneficiaries of their artificial-intelligence spending blitz, with semiconductor stocks taking a leading role in driving the market higher.
From MarketWatch ● Jun. 24, 2026
One key measurement is the backset: the distance from the edge of the door to the center of the handle.
From Seattle Times ● Nov. 22, 2019
He did a good job protecting the backset and blocking shots.
From Seattle Times ● Feb. 25, 2012
The backset to his ambition made him more sleepless than ever, bringing on frequent attacks of asthma.
From The Faith Doctor A Story of New York by Eggleston, Edward
"He's backset and foreset," she said in a low tone.
From The Shadow of a Crime A Cumbrian Romance by Caine, Hall, Sir
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
