Word
kickback
Phoneticskick·back, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈkɪkˌbæk/
UK/kˈɪkbæk/
Countable noun
Definition
n. a secret, illegal payment made to someone in return for help with a business deal or a government contract. You usually give this money to someone powerful who used their position to help you.
n. a form of negotiated bribery in which a portion of the funds from a contract or transaction is illicitly returned to a facilitator as a reward for their influence. Often associated with political corruption or corporate procurement fraud.
Examples
“The official was arrested for taking a kickback from the construction company.”
“Investigators discovered that the mayor received a ten percent kickback on every public works contract awarded during his term.”
“The scandal deepened when auditors identified a series of kickbacks disguised as consulting fees, funneled through offshore accounts to avoid detection by federal regulators.”
Examples
simple
“The official was arrested for taking a kickback from the construction company.”
contextual
“Investigators discovered that the mayor received a ten percent kickback on every public works contract awarded during his term.”
complex
“The scandal deepened when auditors identified a series of kickbacks disguised as consulting fees, funneled through offshore accounts to avoid detection by federal regulators.”
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “kickback” in context.
Verb
01. accept kickback
“The mayor was forced to resign after admitting he had accepted a kickback from developers.”
verb + noun
02. disguise kickback
“The company tried to disguise the kickback as a legitimate consulting fee.”
verb + noun
03. kickback involve
“The kickback involved a percentage of the total project cost paid in cash.”
noun + verb
04. solicit kickback
“The procurement officer was caught attempting to solicit a kickback from the supplier.”
verb + noun
Adjective
05. hefty kickback
“Officials allegedly received a hefty kickback for awarding the contract to a specific firm.”
adj + noun
06. illegal kickback
“The contractor was accused of paying an illegal kickback to secure the building permit.”
adj + noun
07. secret kickback
“The investigation uncovered a series of secret kickbacks hidden in offshore accounts.”
adj + noun
Noun
08. allegation of kickback
“The government is facing serious allegations of kickbacks in the defense sector.”
noun + prep + noun
09. system of kickback
“Investigators described a sophisticated system of kickbacks that had operated for years.”
noun + prep + noun
10. in exchange for kickback
“Confidential information was leaked in exchange for a kickback.”
11. pay a kickback to
“The firm allegedly paid a kickback to the minister to ensure the deal went through.”
12. receive a kickback from
“He was accused of receiving a kickback from the sale of the state-owned land.”
Usage
Commonly used in legal, political, and financial contexts to describe illicit commissions.
Real-World Examples
“There is even a market of third-party patient recruiters – or patient brokers – who get large kickbacks from treatment centers for each patient they bring to the facility.” “Ukraine's anti-corruption police accused an ex-energy minister on Monday of helping launder kickbacks and stashing millions offshore, a day after he was detained trying to leave the country in a case that has shaken Kyiv's wartime government.” “The detention of a former Brazilian leader on corruption allegations is prompting inquiries regarding how a Swedish consultancy secured a contract to assist in the construction of a nuclear power facility, which prosecutors claim is at the heart of a substantial bribery and kickback operation.” “Reports from South African media surfaced on Tuesday, suggesting that SAP provided kickbacks disguised as sales commissions to a company associated with the politically influential Gupta family.” Etymology
Deverbal from kick back.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Related words
Domain
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- C1 · Advanced
- Updated
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