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snapback

American  
[snap-bak] / ˈsnæpˌbæk /

noun

  1. a sudden rebound or recovery.

  2. Football. snap.


snapback British  
/ ˈsnæpˌbæk /

noun

  1. a sudden rebound or change in direction

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Usage

What else does snapback mean? A snapback is a type of baseball cap with a flat brim and an adjustable strap in the back that snaps together. They're a staple of international urban streetwear. A snapback can also refer to the backwards pass at the start of a play in American football, a recovery from a previous position (think snap out of it and bounce back), as well as a retaliation or comeback.

Etymology

Origin of snapback

1885–90, noun use of verb phrase snap back

Compare meaning

How does snapback compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

The falling VIX levels, and the recent snapback in stocks, doesn’t appear to suggest concern with the vague outlines of a U.S.-Iran deal that is expected to be inked on Friday.

From Barron's Jun. 17, 2026

The tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite Index rallied hard on Wednesday, gaining 2.8%, as corners of the market that had been among the hardest-hit in 2026 surged into the lead during a torrid snapback rally.

From MarketWatch Apr. 9, 2026

Hedge-fund traders live in fear of letting big bonuses slip through their fingers in a late-year snapback.

From The Wall Street Journal Nov. 22, 2025

But those investors seldom have the resources to survive the almost inevitable snapback.

From Los Angeles Times Oct. 31, 2025

I throw my snapback on, pulling the front down enough so it can cover my edges.

From "On the Come Up" by Angie Thomas

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