backrest

/ˈbækˌɹɛst/

//ˈbækˌɹɛst// noun

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

The verdict

“backrest” is uncommon English (outside the top frequency list), classed as a noun. The kind of spelling people second-guess.

Unranked
below top-frequency English
8
letters

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed September 3, 2026) - The back piece of a chair, used to support the sitter's back.

Corpus desk

Index EN-backrest · backrest · English

backrest · unranked · 0 variants · 0 confusables

  • FREQ-UNRANKED Unranked
  • LEN-LONG 8 letters
  • VOW-2 2 vowels
  • CONFUS-0 No pairs
  • VAR-0 0 variants
  • BOOK-THIN "B" thin
  • PHOTO-UNK Peer pending

Read with this headword: Spelling guide for this pattern

Desk codes from Wiktionary headword shape, FrequencyWords rank tier, confusable-pair count, generated misspelling depth, letter-cohort book size, and photo-finish peer. Not a difficulty grade.

Key facts for backrest
PropertyValue
Headwordbackrest
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechNoun
IPA/ˈbækˌɹɛst/
Letters8
Misspellings tracked0
Confusable pairs0
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Long-tail rank of “backrest” in English

backrestranks outside the top 100,000 English headwords, in the long tail of specialist, archaic, or seldom-used vocabulary, exactly the territory where a reader stops mid-sentence to double-check spelling.

Beyond rank #100,000. Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list.

Rare enough to double-check

backrest is uncommon English outside the top frequency list, classed as anoun, transcribed /ˈbækˌɹɛst/. Rarity is why readers land here mid-draft. 2 senses are on record.

Zero misspellings are on record for backrest in our index, a straightforward case of a spelling with little room for common typos. No confusable counterpart is on file for this word, suggesting its spelling stands apart enough that readers rarely confuse it with something else.

Etymologically, the entry records: Compound of back + rest. The correct English form is backrest, spelled B-A-C-K-R-E-S-T.

Definition

  1. 1
    The back piece of a chair, used to support the sitter's back.
  2. 2
    A guide attached to the slide rest of a lathe, and placed in contact with the work to steady it in turning.

Recorded use

Wiktionary example

These source excerpts show how backrest appears in context. They illustrate usage; the definition above remains the entry’s reference meaning.

  1. I can identify the pattern of wood grain on my chair at Mom and Dad's kitchen table, but I don't try to sketch it in my mind. For me, chairness is nonvisual; it's the feel of a seat connected to four legs and a backrest.

Etymology

Compound of back + rest.

This word in other languages

Definitions, pronunciation, and etymology for this entry are drawn from Wiktionary via the kaikki.org structured extract (CC BY-SA). See the methodology for how each field is sourced and updated.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you spell "backrest"?
"backrest" is spelled B-A-C-K-R-E-S-T. The IPA pronunciation is /ˈbækˌɹɛst/.
What does "backrest" mean?
As a noun, "backrest" means: The back piece of a chair, used to support the sitter's back.
How do you pronounce "backrest"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "backrest" is /ˈbækˌɹɛst/. 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 "backrest"?
Compound of back + rest. 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.

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

Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list