English Reference
Noun

backhand

n.
B2 Upper Intermediate US /ˈbækˌhænd/ UK /bˈækhænd/ back·hand UK spelling backhanding, backhands

n.a way of hitting a ball or a person with the back of your hand. In sports like tennis, it is a common shot where you hit the ball with the side of your hand.

n.a stroke in racket sports executed by hitting the ball with the side of the hand; also refers to a blow delivered with the back of the hand.


SIMPLE

He hit a powerful backhand to win the point.

CONTEXTUAL

The tennis player is famous for his aggressive backhand, which he uses to finish every rally.

COMPLEX

While the forehand is often the dominant stroke in professional tennis, a well-executed backhand can be just as effective when used to counter an opponent's aggressive serve.

She earned a break point in the eighth game of the decider but missed a routine backhand pass.

BBC News· 9 Sept 2026

From back + hand.

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

This entry
Level B2 · Upper Intermediate
Frequency Occasional
Updated