backslide
verb, noun
backslide is spelled B-A-C-K-S-L-I-D-E: 9 letters and 2 syllables. It appears about once in every 11 million words in written English, the 98,107th most frequent word form (wordfreq, 2021 data). As a verb, backslide means “To regress; to slip backwards or revert to a previous, worse state” (English Wiktionary, September 2026).
How many letters and syllables are in backslide?
| Letters | 9: B-A-C-K-S-L-I-D-E |
|---|---|
| Syllables | 2 (from its American pronunciation) |
| In writing | about once in every 11 million words; the 98,107th most frequent word form |
| Wrong spellings searched | none measured in search |
Sources: letters and syllables from the English Wiktionary's hyphenation or pronunciation and the CMU Pronouncing Dictionary; written frequency: wordfreq 3.1 (a 2021 snapshot of Wikipedia, subtitles, news, books, web text and social media).
How common is backslide?
Backslide appears about once in every 11 million words in written English, the 98,107th most frequent word form in the list.
Source: written frequency: wordfreq 3.1 (a 2021 snapshot of Wikipedia, subtitles, news, books, web text and social media).
How do you pronounce backslide?
Backslide has 2 syllables (counted from its American pronunciation in the CMU Pronouncing Dictionary).
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).
Forms of backslide
- backslides present, singular, he/she/it, plural
- backsliding participle, present
- backslid past, participle
- backslided past, participle
- backslidden participle, past
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).
What does backslide mean?
The meanings the English Wiktionary records, quoted as written there (source below).
verb
- 1
To regress; to slip backwards or revert to a previous, worse state.
He felt better for a little while, before his condition started to backslide.
- 2
To shirk responsibility; to renege on one's obligations or commitments.
- 3
To revert back into a life of sin after being saved.
noun
- 1
A backward regression; a reverting back to a worse state.
- 2
A dance move in which the feet are alternately slid back and the heels lifted, giving the illusion of walking forwards while actually moving backwards.
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).
Backslide in Spanish, French, German and Portuguese
| Language | Words |
|---|---|
| French | régresser , renier, revenir sur sa parole, se dédire |
| German | rückläufig werden |
| Portuguese | regredir, regressar, retroceder, decair , renegar, retractar-se |
| Spanish | renegar, retractarse, apostatar |
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract). Translations are Wiktionary's, by sense; a linked word has its own PlainSpell page.
Where does backslide come from?
From back + slide.
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).