backlash

American  

[bak-lash] / ˈbækˌlæʃ /

noun

1. a sudden, forceful backward movement; recoil.

2. a strong or violent reaction, as to some social or political change.

   a backlash of angry feeling among Southern conservatives within the party.

3. Machinery.

   1. the space between the thickness of a gear tooth and the width of the space between teeth in the mating gear, designed to allow for a film of lubricant, binding from heat expansion and eccentricity, or manufacturing inaccuracies.

   2. play or lost motion between loosely fitting machine parts.

4. Angling. a snarled line on a reel, usually caused by a faulty cast.

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verb (used without object)

1. to make or undergo a backlash.

backlash British  

/ ˈbækˌlæʃ /

noun

1. a reaction or recoil between interacting worn or badly fitting parts in a mechanism

2. the play between parts

3. a sudden and adverse reaction, esp to a political or social development

   a public backlash against the government is inevitable

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Etymology

Origin of backlash

First recorded in 1805–15; back ² + lash ¹

Explanation

When many people react against something in the same way, you can call it a backlash. A backlash against government policies can result in mass protests. When people get angry enough about something — or just tired of hearing about it — the result can be a backlash. An influx of refugees to a city can cause a backlash against immigration, and the popularity of a particular style of music might eventually cause a backlash against it. A true backlash involves many people acting together. The original, 1815 meaning of backlash was "recoil between parts of a machine." It wasn't until the 1950's that the figurative meaning came into use.

Example Sentences

The possibility of a populist backlash is especially relevant currently, given that the share of national income going to labor is now at an all-time low.

From MarketWatch • May 6, 2026

Rogan also recently mocked what he called the “ridiculous” backlash against Kimmel, noting that “nobody gave a s—t” about it until after a violent incident suddenly transformed it into a supposed incitement.

From Salon • May 5, 2026

He announced his resignation late last month after facing backlash for recording an English-only video in response to the fatal crash of an Air Canada Express flight at New York’s LaGuardia Airport.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 30, 2026

Didier Gaspard Owen Maximilien's clip went viral and triggered a backlash that led to his arrest in Singapore, which has a reputation for not tolerating bad behaviour.

From Barron's • Apr. 29, 2026

The anti-Woodhull backlash also led to the formation of organizations dedicated to fighting female suffrage.

From "Votes for Women!" by Winifred Conkling

Related Words

• reaction
• repercussion
• resentment
• resistance
• response
• retaliation