backhand
Americannoun
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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.
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(in tennis, squash, etc.) a stroke made from the side of the body opposite to that of the hand holding the racket, paddle, etc.
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handwriting that slopes toward the left.
adjective
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(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
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with the back of the hand.
He hit him backhand across the face.
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from across the body; backhanded.
She returned the ball backhand on the first serve.
verb (used with object)
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to strike with the back of the hand.
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to hit, produce, or accomplish with a backhand.
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to catch (a ball or the like) backhanded.
noun
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sport
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a stroke made across the body with the back of the hand facing the direction of the stroke
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( as modifier )
a backhand return
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the side on which backhand strokes are made
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handwriting slanting to the left
adverb
verb
Other Word Forms
Conjugated Forms
Present
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have backhandedperfect
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has backhandedperfect 3rd person singular
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is backhandingprogressive 3rd person singular
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have been backhandingperfect progressive
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are backhandingprogressive
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am backhandingprogressive 1st person singular
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has been backhandingperfect progressive 3rd person singular
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backhandssingular 3rd person
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backhandingparticiple
Past
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had backhandedperfect
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were backhandingprogressive plural
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was backhandingprogressive singular
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had been backhandingperfect progressive
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backhandedparticiple
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backhandedsimple
Future
Etymology
Origin of backhand
Explanation
A backhand is when you hit a ball with a racket or paddle with your arm across your body and the back of your hand facing the ball. Some tennis players find it challenging to hit a backhand. You can use the word backhand as a noun or an adjective, to describe a stroke in tennis, squash, or any other sport that involves a racket. When backhand is a verb, it can mean to hit the ball this way, but it more often means to hit or slap someone with the back of your hand. The tennis stroke meaning has been around since the 1650s.
Vocabulary lists containing backhand
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.
After unleashing a superb backhand winner from an acute angle off the court, she broke into a broad grin and spread her arms out in a gesture that suggested she was surprising even herself.
From Barron's • Jun. 9, 2026
If the single-handed backhand has been Wawrinka's signature shot, then this was his signature match.
From BBC • May 25, 2026
Carlsson, left all alone on the right side, doubled the advantage with his fourth goal of the playoffs at 13:24 of the third period, redirecting in a backhand pass from Troy Terry.
From Los Angeles Times • May 7, 2026
A thumping forehand and a long backhand from his opponent was enough to help the Briton wrap up victory in only 61 minutes.
From BBC • Feb. 5, 2026
But he couldn’t reach up to its backhand so he tried the sea horse.
From "The Thief Lord" by Cornelia Funke
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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.