drawback

American  

[draw-bak] / ˈdrɔˌbæk /

noun

1. a hindrance or disadvantage; an undesirable or objectionable feature.

2. Commerce. an amount paid back from a charge made.

3. Government. a refund of tariff or other tax, as when imported goods are reexported.

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drawback British  

/ ˈdrɔːˌbæk /

noun

1. a disadvantage or hindrance

2. a refund of customs or excise duty paid on goods that are being exported or used in the production of manufactured exports

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verb

1. to retreat; move backwards

2. to turn aside from an undertaking

Etymology

Origin of drawback

First recorded in 1610–20; noun use of verb phrase draw back

Example Sentences

Being married and enrolled in Medicare has benefits and drawbacks.

From MarketWatch

Washington has several options to acquire control over the territory but each has steep drawbacks.

From The Wall Street Journal

A potential drawback, however, is that heavy crude does not flow easily and needs to be thinned out by blending it with light oils or solvents for processing.

From MarketWatch

Inflation risk is a genuine drawback of traditional fixed annuities, which pay a level nominal income that steadily loses purchasing power.

From The Wall Street Journal

While manufactured homes have drawbacks, buying one will technically fulfill your desire to be a homeowner, which isn’t nothing.

From MarketWatch

Related Words

• defect
• deficiency
• difficulty
• disadvantage
• failing
• fault
• flaw
• hindrance
• hitch
• impediment
• imperfection
• inconvenience
• obstacle
• shortcoming
• snag
• stumbling block
• weakness