backwoods

American  

[bak-woodz] / ˈbækˈwʊdz /

noun

1. (often used with a singular verb) wooded or partially uncleared and unsettled districts.

2. any remote or isolated area.

   Synonyms:

   backwater, bush, boonies, boondocks, woodland, wild, hinterland

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adjective

1. of or relating to the backwoods.

2. unsophisticated; uncouth.

backwoods British  

/ ˈbækwʊdz /

plural noun

1. partially cleared, sparsely populated forests

2. any remote sparsely populated place

3. (modifier) of, from, or like the backwoods

4. (modifier) uncouth; rustic

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Etymology

Origin of backwoods

An Americanism dating back to 1700–10; back ¹ + woods ¹ (in the sense “a forest”)

Example Sentences

Little is known about Mr Benastick's condition or how he survived in the backwoods.

From BBC • Nov. 27, 2024

Rust Cohle slow dances with murmurings about Carcosa in Season 1, and the anthology’s creator Nic Pizzolatto spiced up the mystique by depositing backwoods fetishes near crime scenes.

From Salon • Feb. 5, 2024

Mr. Blackstone, 56, began fighting fires during his college years when he worked as a backwoods ranger, often getting called in to help with forest fires.

From New York Times • Jun. 29, 2023

Doing so doesn’t require traipsing into the backwoods of Louisiana listening for a double-knock call that may never come.

From Slate • May 27, 2023

The old man’s backwoods savvy, his affinity for the wilderness, left a deep impression on the boy.

From "Into the Wild" by Jon Krakauer

Related Words

• backcountry
• outback