drawback

[draw-bak]

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.

drawback

/ 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

verb

1. to retreat; move backwards

2. to turn aside from an undertaking

Word History and Origins

Origin of drawback¹

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

Example Sentences

Colvin acknowledges that this type of historical market analysis has some drawbacks.

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Choosing one place to live in forever will inevitably have its drawbacks, even if the idea is sold as paradise, and deciding between two great loves will always leave someone heartbroken.

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A divided committee, missing data and a whiff of stagflation present a choice between two paths—each with drawbacks.

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Surprisingly, many farmers still accepted these drawbacks and chose city life.

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To negotiate these stark divisions, Powell is likely to weigh two approaches, each with drawbacks.

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Related Words

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