kickback

/ˈkɪkbæk/

//ˈkɪkbæk// noun

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

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

The verdict

“kickback” has 13 generated spelling variants in the English index at frequency #42,729. The variants make it a useful spelling check.

#42,729
frequency rank, English
9,255
“K” headwords
13
tracked misspellings

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - A backward kick; a retrograde movement of an extremity.

Key facts for kickback
PropertyValue
Headwordkickback
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechNoun
IPA/ˈkɪkbæk/
Letters8
Frequency rank#42,729
Misspellings tracked13
Confusable pairs0
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “kickback” 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). kickback lands here:

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

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

A misspelling magnet

The generator records 13 spelling variants around kickback (IPA /ˈkɪkbæk/), anoun. Corpus frequency is #42,729 among 9,255 “K” headwords. Wiktionary lists 10 senses, so context still picks the gloss.

Our generated misspelling index lists 13 likely wrong-spelling variants for kickback, with forms such as "ikckback", "kcikback", and "kicbkack". Each variant is a distinct typo pattern an edit-distance generator flags, typically a doubled-consonant error, a silent-letter drop, or a vowel substitution. It is not paired with a close-neighbour confusable in our dataset, since no other headword is close enough in sound or shape to pair with it.

Etymologically, the entry records: Deverbal from kick back. The correct English form is kickback, spelled K-I-C-K-B-A-C-K.

Definition

  1. 1
    A backward kick; a retrograde movement of an extremity.
  2. 2
    A covert, often illegal, payment in return for a favor consisting of providing an opportunity of chargeable transaction; especially, a kind of quid pro quo in which if you (an insider) secretly help me (an outsider) win the bid for the contract then I will secretly send you a portion of the contract value; thus, a kind of bribe.
  3. 3
    Recoil; a sudden backward motion, usually in the direction of the operator.
  4. 4
    An accident where an object being cut by a rotating blade or disk, such as a circular saw, is caught by the blade and thrown outward.
  5. 5
    An accident wherein the upper tip of the bar of a running chainsaw contacts a relatively immovable object, forcing the bar upwards and pressing the running chain more firmly against the object, causing the saw to be hurled upwards and backwards into the operator's face.
  6. 6
    A dangerous buildup of gas pressure at the wellhead.
  7. 7
    The board separating one bowling lane from another at the pit end.
  8. 8
    In contract bridge, an ace asking convention initiated by the first step above four of the agreed trump suit.
  9. 9
    A feature that saves the ball from draining and propels it back into play.
  10. 10
    A relaxed party.

Etymology

Deverbal from kick back.

This word in other languages

rétrocommission(Français)Kickback(Deutsch)

Common misspellings

Also misspelled as:

  • ikckback
  • kcikback
  • kicbkack
  • kicckback
  • kickabck
  • kickbacck
  • kickbackk
  • kickbakc
  • kickbback
  • kickbcak
  • kickkback
  • kikcback
  • kkickback

Misspelling Pattern Breakdown

How far each generated variant is from the correct spelling of kickback - counted as single-character edits (an insertion, a deletion, or a substituted letter). The larger the bar, the easier the typo is to spot; one-edit slips are the ones that sneak past readers.

ikckback2kcikback2kicbkack2kicckback1kickabck2kickbacck1kickbackk1kickbakc2
Edit distance from "kickback"

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 "kickback"?
"kickback" is spelled K-I-C-K-B-A-C-K. The IPA pronunciation is /ˈkɪkbæk/.
What does "kickback" mean?
As a noun, "kickback" means: A backward kick; a retrograde movement of an extremity.
What are common misspellings of "kickback"?
Common misspellings include "ikckback", "kcikback", "kicbkack", "kicckback", "kickabck". The correct spelling is "kickback".
How do you pronounce "kickback"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "kickback" is /ˈkɪkbæk/. 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 "kickback"?
Deverbal from kick back. 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 “kickback”

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

  • The one correct English spelling is K-I-C-K-B-A-C-K - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
  • Say it as /ˈkɪkbæk/ (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

Same frequency band

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