backhand

/ˈbækhænd/

//ˈbækhænd// noun

By · According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA) ·

"backhand" is a 8-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.

The verdict

“backhand” is a moderately-common English word, ranked #34,389 in English word frequency and used as a noun.

#34,389
frequency rank, English
8
letters
13
tracked misspellings
4
confusable pairs

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - 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.

Visual similarity to commonly confused words

How many letter changes separate each confused pair (Levenshtein distance, normalized).

backhand vs backyard
75% similar
backhand vs backward
75% similar
backhand vs Buckland
63% similar

Source: PlainSpell confusable corpus (Wiktionary, CC BY-SA).

Key facts for backhand
PropertyValue
Headwordbackhand
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechNoun
IPA/ˈbækhænd/
Letters8
Frequency rank#34,389
Misspellings tracked13
Confusable pairs4
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “backhand” sits in English frequency

Every-word frequency runs from the handful of words we use constantly (left) to the long tail used once in a blue moon (right). backhand lands here:

#1#100#1K#10K#100K
← used constantlyrarely used →

Scale is logarithmic (each tick is 10× rarer). Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list.

Spelling & Dictionary Insight

The English entry for backhand is 8 letters long, classified as a noun, and transcribed in the International Phonetic Alphabet as /ˈbækhænd/. Corpus data places it at rank #34,389 in overall English word frequency, marking it as uncommon enough that many writers pause before typing it. Wiktionary records 5 distinct senses for this headword, so context determines which meaning a reader should apply.

Our generated misspelling index lists 13 likely wrong-spelling variants for backhand, with forms such as "abckhand", "bacckhand", and "bachkand". Each of these forms differs from the correct spelling by one small edit: a doubled letter, a dropped silent letter, or a substituted vowel. It also participates in 4 confusable-pair relationships, "backyard", "backward", "Buckland", and more, since the words sound or look close enough that writers reach for the wrong one mid-sentence.

Etymologically, the entry records: From back + hand. The correct English form is backhand, spelled B-A-C-K-H-A-N-D.

Definition

  1. 1
    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.
  2. 2
    Handwriting that leans to the left.
  3. 3
    The standard throw; a throw during which the disc begins on the off-hand side and travels across the chest to be released from the opposite side.
  4. 4
    The back of the hand: the reverse side (dorsal side) of the human hand or other primate hand.
  5. 5
    The hand towards the back of the board.

Etymology

From back + hand.

This word in other languages

revés(Español)revers(Français)

Common misspellings

Also misspelled as: abckhand,bacckhand,bachkand,backahnd,backhadn,backhandd,backhannd,backhhand,backhnad,backkhand,bakchand,bbackhand,bcakhand

Misspelling Pattern Breakdown

How far each generated variant is from the correct spelling of backhand - measured in single-character edits (insert, delete, or substitute a letter). Larger bars are easier to catch; one-edit slips are the sneakiest.

abckhand2bacckhand1bachkand2backahnd2backhadn2backhandd1backhannd1backhhand1
Edit distance from "backhand"

Definitions, pronunciation, and etymology for this entry are drawn from Wiktionary via the kaikki.org structured extract (CC BY-SA); frequency ordering uses the FrequencyWords open word-frequency list (2018 English corpus, MIT). See the methodology for how each field is sourced and updated.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you spell "backhand"?
"backhand" is spelled B-A-C-K-H-A-N-D. The IPA pronunciation is /ˈbækhænd/.
What does "backhand" mean?
As a noun, "backhand" means: 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.
What words are commonly confused with "backhand"?
"backhand" is commonly confused with "backyard", "backward", "Buckland". These words look or sound similar but have different meanings. PlainSpell provides detailed comparisons for each pair.
How do you pronounce "backhand"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "backhand" is /ˈbækhænd/. Click the speaker icon on the pronunciation badge above to hear it spoken aloud where audio is available.
What is the origin of the word "backhand"?
From back + hand. See the full etymology section above for more details.
Is PlainSpell free to use?
Yes, PlainSpell is a completely free word reference. You can look up definitions, pronunciations, confusable pairs, homophones, and spelling corrections across 5 languages without any sign-up or subscription.

Using “backhand”

The practical upshot for anyone who landed here from a spell-check.

  • The one correct English spelling is B-A-C-K-H-A-N-D - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
  • Say it as /ˈbækhænd/ (IPA); tap the speaker on the pronunciation badge to hear it where audio exists.
  • Don't mix it up with “backyard” - see the side-by-side comparison. backhand vs backyard
  • Browse more English words and confusable pairs in the same reference. English words
Data Source

Wiktionary (via kaikki.org), licensed under CC BY-SA & GFDL. Word ordering uses an open word-frequency list; misspelling variants are generated by edit-distance from the correct headword.

Source: Wiktionary (via kaikki.org) Structured Wiktionary extract

Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list FrequencyWords open word-frequency list