backhand

[bak-hand]

noun

1. a stroke, slap, etc., made with the palm of the hand turned toward the body and the back of the hand turned in the direction of the stroke, slap, etc.

2. (in tennis, squash, etc.) a stroke made from the side of the body opposite to that of the hand holding the racket, paddle, etc.

3. handwriting that slopes toward the left.

adjective

1. backhanded.

2. (in tennis, squash, etc.) of, relating to, or noting a stroke made from the side of the body opposite to that of the hand holding the racket, paddle, etc.

adverb

1. with the back of the hand.

   He hit him backhand across the face.

2. from across the body; backhanded.

   She returned the ball backhand on the first serve.

verb (used with object)

1. to strike with the back of the hand.

2. to hit, produce, or accomplish with a backhand.

3. to catch (a ball or the like) backhanded.

backhand

/ ˈbækˌhænd /

noun

1. sport

   1. a stroke made across the body with the back of the hand facing the direction of the stroke

   2. ( as modifier )

      a backhand return

2. the side on which backhand strokes are made

3. handwriting slanting to the left

adverb

1. with a backhand stroke

verb

1. sport to play (a shot) backhand

Word History and Origins

Origin of backhand¹

First recorded in 1650–60; back ² + hand

Example Sentences

Last Thanksgiving was full of backhanded compliments and pointed remarks.

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When Alcaraz had a chance to win the first set at 6-5 on Sinner's serve, the Italian nervelessly sent down a 116mph second serve to his opponent's backhand to save the break point.

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He then dominated the tie-break, capitalising on a run of backhand errors from Alcaraz and executing a couple of pinpoint lobs, to seal the first set.

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In a 1919 review of a pair of books by Theodore Dreiser, Virginia Woolf issued some exquisitely backhanded praise for the Indiana-born author, whose writing, she thought, stood out for its roughness and vitality.

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The remainder of the set went with the serve until Anisimova got her deserved break at the ideal time, her relentless pressure forcing Swiatek into a backhand error at set point down.

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