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

A hiker who was lost in the backwoods of British Columbia for more than five weeks has been found alive.

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

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

A brash backwoods maverick with a wavy blond pompadour and an arrogant sneer, Lewis brought nervy authority and a personal stamp to his unruly concoction of country, gospel, and rhythm and blues.

From Los Angeles Times • Oct. 28, 2022

It was not a behavior pattern of which the backwoods community approved; a lot of people smirked a little when they mentioned Bill Creighton.

From "Across Five Aprils" by Irene Hunt

Related Words

• backcountry
• outback