noun
blowback
BLOH-bak
Blowback (noun) means an unintended and often damaging consequence, especially of a covert or political action. Example: “The policy caused serious blowback among voters.”
noun
1
An unintended and often damaging consequence, especially of a covert or political action.
"The policy caused serious blowback among voters."
"Analysts warned of blowback from the sanctions."
2
A firearm mechanism in which pressure from firing pushes the mechanism backward to reload the next round.
"The pistol uses a simple blowback action."
How to use blowback
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishAn unwanted consequence that comes back to hurt whoever caused it.
Common pairings
political blowback
face blowback
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Word forms
- Plural
- blowbacks
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The policy caused serious _____ among voters.
Etymology
Formed from "blow" and "back," originally a mechanical term before being adopted for political fallout.
Synonyms
View more →Related words
Rhymes for blowback
See all rhymes for blowback →Frequently asked questions
What does “blowback” mean?
The word “blowback” means an unintended and often damaging consequence, especially of a covert or political action. In plain terms, an unwanted consequence that comes back to hurt whoever caused it.
How do you pronounce “blowback”?
“Blowback” is pronounced BLOH-bak (/ˈbloʊˌbæk/ in IPA).
How do you use “blowback” in a sentence?
Here is “blowback” used in a sentence: “The policy caused serious blowback among voters.”
What part of speech is “blowback”?
“Blowback” is a noun.
How many meanings does “blowback” have?
“Blowback” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: an unintended and often damaging consequence, especially of a covert or political action.
