noun
backhand
BAK-hand
Backhand (noun) means In tennis and similar sports, a stroke played across the body with the back of the hand facing the direction of the shot. Example: “Her backhand is stronger than her forehand.”
noun
1
In tennis and similar sports, a stroke played across the body with the back of the hand facing the direction of the shot.
"Her backhand is stronger than her forehand."
2
Handwriting that slants to the left.
"His backhand script made the letter oddly difficult to read."
verb
1
To hit something using a backhand stroke.
"He backhanded the return straight down the line."
How to use backhand
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA sports stroke hit with the back of the hand facing forward, or handwriting slanted to the left.
Common pairings
a strong backhand
hit a backhand
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Word forms
- Plural
- backhands
- Third person singular
- backhands
- Past tense
- backhanded
- Comparative
- more backhand
- Superlative
- most backhand
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
Her _____ is stronger than her forehand.
Etymology
From back + hand.
Synonyms
View more →
backhand shot
backhand stroke
Antonyms
Related words
Frequently asked questions
What does “backhand” mean?
The word “backhand” means in tennis and similar sports, a stroke played across the body with the back of the hand facing the direction of the shot. In plain terms, a sports stroke hit with the back of the hand facing forward, or handwriting slanted to the left.
How do you pronounce “backhand”?
“Backhand” is pronounced BAK-hand (/ˈbækhænd/ in IPA).
How do you use “backhand” in a sentence?
Here is “backhand” used in a sentence: “Her backhand is stronger than her forehand.”
What part of speech is “backhand”?
Depending on how it is used, “backhand” can be a noun and a verb.
How many meanings does “backhand” have?
“Backhand” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: in tennis and similar sports, a stroke played across the body with the back of the hand facing the direction of the shot.
