Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

backless

/ˈbækləs/

Word Rarity Very rare

Frequency: Zipf frequency 2.41 in modern English

Syllables: back-less
IPA: /ˈbækləs/

16

Scrabble Score

8

Letters

2

Syllables

7

Unique Chars

Meaning

adj

Having no back, especially where one would be expected, as with a chair or a dress.

adj

Having the back uncovered, showing the skin.

Example Sentences

"a backless surgical gown"
"The apartment was almost dismantled; chairs lay backless about the floor amid china shepherdesses and toreadors; pictures were thrown over the sofa, […]"

Etymology

Etymology tree English back Proto-Indo-European *lewh₁- Proto-Indo-European *lewHs-der. Proto-Germanic *leusaną Proto-Germanic *lausaz Proto-Germanic *-lausaz Proto-West Germanic *-laus Old English -lēas Middle English -les English -less English backless From back + -less.

Regional Pronunciation

American English: /ˈbækləs/

Derived Forms

backlessness

Rhymes With

trackless

Questions

How do you pronounce backless?: The recorded pronunciation is /ˈbækləs/.
What does backless mean?: Having no back, especially where one would be expected, as with a chair or a dress.
Where does backless come from?: Etymology tree English back Proto-Indo-European *lewh₁- Proto-Indo-European *lewHs-der. Proto-Germanic *leusaną Proto-Germanic *lausaz Proto-Germanic *-lausaz Proto-West Germanic *-laus Old English -lēas Middle English -les English -less English backless From back + -less.

How to pronounce backless

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