# backlash

/ˈbæˌkɫæʃ/ (US) · /bˈæklæʃ/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/backlash
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. social/political reaction

noun · CEFR B2

a strong, negative reaction by a large group of people against something that has happened.

For teachers: a sudden and strong adverse reaction by a significant segment of the public to a social or political development.

- The government faced a huge backlash from voters after they decided to raise taxes.
- The fashion brand experienced a severe public backlash after their latest advertising campaign was accused of being culturally insensitive.

Usage: Often used with the prepositions 'against' or 'from'.

### 2. mechanical play

noun · CEFR C2 · Technical

the small amount of movement or looseness between parts of a machine that are connected.

For teachers: the clearance or 'play' between mating components in a mechanical system, such as gears, which results in a delay or lost motion.

- The old steering wheel had too much backlash, making the car hard to control.
- Precision engineering requires the minimisation of backlash within the gear assembly to ensure accurate positioning in robotic arms.

### 4. to react strongly

verb · CEFR C2 · Formal

to react in a sudden and angry way to something.

For teachers: to manifest a strong, sudden, and adverse reaction to a specific cause or event.

- The community began to backlash against the new construction project in the park.
- Market forces may backlash if the central bank implements such aggressive interest rate hikes without sufficient warning.

## Examples

- The new tax law caused a huge backlash from voters.
- The company faced a severe public backlash after they announced plans to close the local factory.
- Historians often observe a conservative backlash following periods of rapid social progress, as segments of the population react against the perceived erosion of traditional values.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.