noun
backwater
Backwater (noun) means a place seen as remote, quiet, and untouched by modern trends or major events. Example: “The village had been a sleepy backwater for centuries before the new highway arrived.”
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
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Word forms
- Plural
- backwaters
- Third person singular
- backwaters
- Past tense
- backwatered
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.
Rhymes for backwater
See all rhymes for backwater →Frequently asked questions
What does “backwater” mean?
The word “backwater” means a place seen as remote, quiet, and untouched by modern trends or major events. In plain terms, either a stagnant pool of water cut off from the main current, or figuratively, a place that time and progress seem to have passed by.
How do you use “backwater” in a sentence?
Here is “backwater” used in a sentence: “The village had been a sleepy backwater for centuries before the new highway arrived.”
What part of speech is “backwater”?
“Backwater” is a noun.
How many meanings does “backwater” have?
“Backwater” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a place seen as remote, quiet, and untouched by modern trends or major events.
