noun
backwater
noun
1
A place seen as remote, quiet, and untouched by modern trends or major events.
"The village had been a sleepy backwater for centuries before the new highway arrived."
2
Still water held back or diverted by a dam, obstruction, or the current of a larger river.
"Herons often fish in the calm backwaters along the riverbank."
How to Use Backwater
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishEither a stagnant pool of water cut off from the main current, or figuratively, a place that time and progress seem to have passed by.
Common pairings
rural backwater
quiet backwater
cultural backwater
Word Forms
backwatered past tense, backwaters plural, backwaters singular
Study it as flashcards or scroll it in Flow — saved to your collection.
Test yourself on “backwater”
A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage
→
Fill the Gap
Can you complete this real example?
The village had been a sleepy _____ for centuries before the new highway arrived.
Etymology
From back + water, originally describing water pushed back by an obstruction, later extended to mean a place left behind by progress.