backstroke

American  

[bak-strohk] / ˈbækˌstroʊk /

noun

1. a backhanded stroke.

2. Swimming. a stroke made while on one's back.

3. a blow or stroke in return; recoil.

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verb (used without object)

backstroked, backstroking

1. Swimming. to swim the backstroke.

   She backstroked across the pool.

backstroke British  

/ ˈbækˌstrəʊk /

noun

1. Also called: back crawl.  swimming

   1. a stroke performed on the back, using backward circular strokes of each arm alternately and flipper movements of the feet

   2. ( as modifier )

      the backstroke champion

2. a return stroke or blow

3. a backhanded stroke

4. Leisure:Bell-ringing the upward movement of the bell rope as the bell swings back and forth Compare handstroke

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verb

1. (intr) to swim the backstroke

Etymology

Origin of backstroke

First recorded in 1665–75; back ² + stroke ¹

Explanation

When you swim the backstroke, you lie on your back in the water and move your arms up and back over your head while you kick your feet. It's hard to see where you're going when you do the backstroke. If you swim competitively on a swim team, the backstroke is one of the four official strokes for racing. Some swimmers prefer the backstroke because it's easier to breathe than when you swim face-down, though it's harder to tell how close you are to the pool wall. You can also use backstroke as a verb: "I'll just backstroke over to the shallow end and say hi to my friend."

Example Sentences

France's Marie Wattel won the women's 50m fly in 26.01 and France's Yohann Ndoye Brouard won the men's 50m backstroke in 24.94 -- just six-hundredths of a second in front of American Shaine Casas.

From Barron's • Jan. 18, 2026

She returned to win the 50m backstroke in 27.67, her third gold of the meeting.

From Barron's • Jan. 18, 2026

McKeown, a five-time Olympic gold medallist who claimed a backstroke double at this year's World Championships in Singapore, led an Aussie one-two ahead of Mollie O'Callaghan.

From Barron's • Oct. 11, 2025

After shaving a second off her previous best time on the backstroke leg, McIntosh was still a tenth of a second off Hosszú’s previous record pace at the final turn.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 10, 2025

Dinitia and I stayed in the pool all morning, splashing, practicing the backstroke and the butterfly.

From "The Glass Castle" by Jeannette Walls