backwash
/ˈbæk.wɑʃ/noun, verb
backwash is spelled B-A-C-K-W-A-S-H: 8 letters and 2 syllables. It appears about once in every 8 million words in written English, the 82,325th most frequent word form (wordfreq, 2021 data). As a noun, backwash means “A backward flow of water, as from oars, a propeller, breaking waves, etc” (English Wiktionary, September 2026). The plural of backwash is backwashes.
How many letters and syllables are in backwash?
| Letters | 8: B-A-C-K-W-A-S-H |
|---|---|
| Syllables | 2 (from its American pronunciation) |
| In writing | about once in every 8 million words; the 82,325th 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 backwash?
Backwash appears about once in every 8 million words in written English, the 82,325th 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 backwash?
- UK /ˈbæk.wɒʃ/
- US /ˈbæk.wɑʃ/
Backwash 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). Recordings: LL-Q1860_(eng)-Vealhurl-backwash.wav, Wikimedia Commons (author and licence on each file's page).
Words people confuse with backwash
Also written: back wash (one word or two).
Sources: English Wiktionary (homophones, alternative spellings).
Forms of backwash
- backwashes plural, present, singular, he/she/it
- backwashing participle, present
- backwashed participle, past
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).
What does backwash mean?
The meanings the English Wiktionary records, quoted as written there (source below).
noun
- 1
A backward flow of water, as from oars, a propeller, breaking waves, etc.
- 2
The similar flow of air from an aircraft engine.
- 3
The result or consequence of an event; an aftermath.
- 4
The saliva, spit or food particles that have flowed back into a drink after someone has drunk from it.
- 5
The situation where economic growth in one area harms other areas by attracting people and business away from those areas.
- 6
An obscure place; a backwater.
- 7
Synonym of washback.
verb
- 1
To operate a water filter in the reverse direction in order to clean it.
- 2
To affect with backwash.
- 3
To clean the oil from wool after combing.
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).
Backwash in Spanish, French, German and Portuguese
In the sense The saliva, spit or food flowing back into a drink:
| Language | Words |
|---|---|
| German | Spuckschluck, Spuckrest, Uwe |
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 backwash come from?
From back + wash.
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).