World Languages Lexicon
10 Language-to-English DictionariesBackwater
/ˈbækˌwɔː.tɚ/Comprehensive Definitions & Senses
2 senses- 1
A part of a river where the water is stagnant or flows backward because it is led away from the main stream or obstructed by a tide or dam.
"Their canoe drifted slowly into a quiet backwater shaded by overhanging willow trees." - 2
An isolated, remote, or backward place that is unaffected by major intellectual, cultural, or economic currents and progress.
"Growing up in a sleepy rural backwater made him eager to experience life in a bustling metropolis."
Thesaurus & Semantic Spectrum
Linguistic Origin & Historical Etymology
Derived from back + water, originally referring to water that has been forced backward or held in an inactive state by an obstruction, tide, or current. Over time, the term evolved metaphorically to describe isolated, stagnant, or intellectually backward places unaffected by progress.
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10 Global Lexicons: How "Backwater" is said worldwide
Click any language below to open its dedicated Language to English dictionary page with native script & transliteration
bras mort
Transliteration: bʁa mɔʁ
"Le bateau naviguait lentement dans un bras mort de la rivière."
Altwasser
Transliteration: ˈaltˌvasɐ
"Das Boot glitt lautlos in das ruhige Altwasser hinein."
ramo morto
Transliteration: ˈra.mo ˈmɔr.to
"La barca si fermò in un ramo morto del fiume."
aguas muertas
Transliteration: ˈa.ɣwas ˈmweɾ.tas
"El pueblo parecía un remanso de paz olvidado en las aguas muertas."
remanso
Transliteration: ʁeˈmɐ̃.su
"Eles pescavam tranquilamente no remanso do rio."
शांत जल
Transliteration: shant jal
"केरल के शांत जल पर्यटकों को बहुत आकर्षित करते हैं।"
死水湾
Transliteration: sǐ shuǐ wān
"小船划进了一条幽静的死水湾。"
오지
Transliteration: oji
"그 마을은 문명이 닿지 않는 조용한 오지였다."
淀み
Transliteration: yodomi
"川の淀みに落ち葉がたくさん浮いていた。"
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