Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

backbiting

/bˈækbˌaɪtɪŋ/

Word Rarity Very rare

Frequency: 1.99 in modern English

Syllables
back-bit-ing
IPA
/bˈækbˌaɪtɪŋ/
21
Scrabble Score
10
Letters
3
Syllables
8
Unique Chars

Meaning

noun

The action of slandering a person without that person's knowledge.

Countable; Uncountable

adj

Slanderous or speaking badly, especially of a person without that person's knowledge.

verb

present participle and gerund of backbite

Example Sentences

Etymology

From Middle English bakbitynge, bacbiting, bacbitung, equivalent to backbite + -ing.

Origin

Word Breakdown

Usage

Inflected Forms

backbitings (plural) more backbiting (comparative) most backbiting (superlative)

Derived Forms

Questions

How do you pronounce backbiting?
The recorded pronunciation is /bˈækbˌaɪtɪŋ/.
What does backbiting mean?
The action of slandering a person without that person's knowledge.
Where does backbiting come from?
It is traced to Middle English.

How to pronounce backbiting

  1. Open the pronunciation page — Open the Speakur entry for “backbiting”.
  2. Read the phonetic spelling — Read the IPA spelling (/bˈækbˌaɪtɪŋ/) so you know which sounds to aim for.
  3. Play the audio — Click Play to hear reference audio for “backbiting”.
  4. Repeat and practice — Say “backbiting” aloud, matching stress and vowels until it feels natural.