backhanded

Name: backhanded, English Word Data
Creator: Wiktionary
License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/

/ˈbækˌhændəd/

//ˈbækˌhændəd// adj

By PlainSpell Editorial Team · According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA) · analyzed May 6, 2026

The verdict

“backhanded” is an uncommon English word, ranked #59,872 in English word frequency and used as an adjective.

#59,872
frequency rank, English: 10
letters

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - With the back of the hand.

Key facts for backhanded
Property	Value
Headword	backhanded
Language	English
Part of speech	Adjective
IPA	/ˈbækˌhændəd/
Letters	10
Frequency rank	#59,872
Misspellings tracked	0
Confusable pairs	0
Source	Wiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “backhanded” 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). backhanded lands here:

#59,872

#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 backhanded is 10 letters long, classified as an adjective, and transcribed in the International Phonetic Alphabet as /ˈbækˌhændəd/. Corpus data places it at rank #59,872 in overall English word frequency, marking it as uncommon enough that many writers pause before typing it. Wiktionary records 8 distinct senses for this headword, so context determines which meaning a reader should apply.

No generated misspelling entries exist for backhanded in our index, suggesting the orthography follows predictable English patterns. It is not paired with a close-neighbour confusable in our dataset, suggesting its spelling stands apart enough that readers rarely confuse it with something else.

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

Definition

1
With the back of the hand.
2
Involving a backward flip of the hand.
3
Insincere, sarcastic, ironic, or self-contradictory.
4
Indirect.
5
Backwards, turned around.
6
inclining to the left
7
Retrospective, occurring after the fact rather than in advance.
8
Self-serving, corrupt, slipshod, or neglectful.

Etymology

From back + hand + -ed.

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 "backhanded"?

"backhanded" is spelled B-A-C-K-H-A-N-D-E-D. The IPA pronunciation is /ˈbækˌhændəd/.

What does "backhanded" mean?

As an adjective, "backhanded" means: With the back of the hand.

How do you pronounce "backhanded"?

The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "backhanded" is /ˈbækˌhændəd/. 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 "backhanded"?

From back + hand + -ed. 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 “backhanded”

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-E-D - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
Say it as /ˈbækˌhændəd/ (IPA); tap the speaker on the pronunciation badge to hear it where audio exists.
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.