English Reference
Noun

drawback

n. countable
B2 Upper Intermediate US /ˈdɹɔˌbæk/ UK /dɹˈɔːbæk/ draw·back UK spelling drawback's, drawback's

n.a disadvantage or a negative part of a situation that is otherwise good.

n.a disadvantageous feature or negative aspect of an otherwise attractive or functional proposal.


SIMPLE

The only drawback of this apartment is the high rent.

CONTEXTUAL

While the new software is much faster, its main drawback is the lack of compatibility with older files.

COMPLEX

Economists argue that the primary drawback of the proposed policy is its potential to stifle innovation in the long term, despite providing immediate relief to consumers.

Usage

Often paired with the preposition 'of' or 'to'.

Usage have drawback

Existing antivenoms save lives, but they also have major drawbacks.

ScienceDaily· 8 Sept 2026

The method produces extremely durable parts, but it has drawbacks.

ScienceDaily· 4 Aug 2026

From draw + back. Compare setback.

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

This entry
Level B2 · Upper Intermediate
Frequency Frequent
Updated