# backhand vs backward

> English confusable word pair

## The two words

### backhand
*noun · IPA /ˈbækhænd/ · frequency rank #34,389*
A stroke made across the chest from the off-hand side to the racquet hand side; a stroke during which the back of the hand faces the shot.

### backward
*adjective · IPA /ˈbæk.wə(ɹ)d/ · frequency rank #10,986*
Indicating position or direction.

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/vs/backhand-vs-backward