Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

backbiter

/ˈbæk.baɪt.ɚ/

Word Rarity Very rare

Frequency: Zipf frequency 0.00 in modern English

Syllables: back-biter
IPA: /ˈbæk.baɪt.ɚ/

19

Scrabble Score

9

Letters

2

Syllables

8

Unique Chars

Meaning

noun

A person who says nasty things about another person behind the second person's back: that is, out of their sight and hearing.

Example Sentences

"[…] here were no Gibers, Cenſurers, Backbiters, Pick-pockets, Highwaymen, Houſebreakers, Attorneys, Bawds, Buffoons, Gameſters, Politicians, Wits, ſplenetick tedious Talkers, Controvertiſts, Raviſhers, Murderers, Robbers, Virtuoſo's; […]"
"She better not hear none of them old backbiters talking about her husband!"

Etymology

From Middle English bakbitere, bakbytere, bacbitere, equivalent to backbite + -er.

Origin

Source language: Middle English

Word Breakdown

Root: bakbitere

Regional Pronunciation

American English: /ˈbæk.baɪt.ɚ/

Inflected Forms

backbiters (plural)

Frequently Paired Words

back backbite backbiting backstab bite biter

Synonyms

defamer maligner slanderer vilifier libeler traducer

Questions

How do you pronounce backbiter?: The recorded pronunciation is /ˈbæk.baɪt.ɚ/.
What does backbiter mean?: A person who says nasty things about another person behind the second person's back: that is, out of their sight and hearing.
Where does backbiter come from?: It is traced to Middle English.

How to pronounce backbiter

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