ENGLISH
REFERENCE

blowback

n.
C1 Advanced blow·back Slang

n. the negative reaction or consequences that happen after you do something, especially something that was meant to be helpful or positive.

n. the unintended negative consequences or adverse public reaction resulting from a specific action or policy. Often used in political or social contexts to describe the backlash against a decision.


SIMPLE

The company faced blowback after raising prices so much.

CONTEXTUAL

The government's decision to close the border led to significant blowback from local business owners who rely on cross-border trade.

COMPLEX

While the initial policy was intended to streamline bureaucracy, the resulting blowback from the public highlighted a deep-seated distrust of centralized administrative power.

Synonyms
Origin

Deverbal from blow back.

© 2026 English Reference