backache

American

[bak-eyk] / ˈbækˌeɪk /

noun

a pain, especially in the lumbar region of the back, usually caused by the strain of a muscle or ligament.

backache British

/ ˈbækˌeɪk /

noun

an ache or pain in one's back

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of backache

First recorded in 1595–1605; back ¹ + ache

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.

The Food and Drug Administration has approved capsaicin for the topical treatment of pain from arthritis, backache, strains and sprains.

From Seattle Times • Feb. 14, 2024

The symptoms of premature labor can include contractions, unusual vaginal discharge, the feeling of pressure in the pelvic area, low dull backache or cramps in the uterus or abdomen.

From Salon • Aug. 7, 2023

They’re a backache every time a collector moves.

From Washington Post • Dec. 19, 2022

Other symptoms include fever, headache, muscle aches and backache, swollen lymph nodes, chills and exhaustion, the CDC said.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 23, 2022

The backache had spread until all the muscles in his body ached badly.

From "The Hot Zone" by Richard Preston

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023