kickback

1 of 2

noun

kick·back ˈkik-ˌbak

Synonyms of kickback next

: a return of a part of a sum received often because of confidential agreement or coercion

every city contract had been let with a ten percent kickback to city officials—

D. K. Shipler

: a sharp violent reaction

kick back

2 of 2

verb

kicked back; kicking back; kicks back

intransitive verb

: to assume a relaxed position or attitude

also : to spend time relaxing : take it easy

spent the weekend just kicking back

Examples of kickback in a Sentence

Noun Several company executives were accused of accepting kickbacks. Verb I plan to spend the day kicking back and watching television. a good resort for people who want to kick back and watch others exercise strenuously

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Two of the most influential factions in the LDP have been accused of failing to properly declare their income and expenditure and, in some instances, allegedly rerouting political funds to lawmakers as kickbacks. —

Yumi Asada, CNN, 13 Aug. 2024 Such tests, so the DOJ’s thinking goes, are kickbacks to patients in the form of free genetic tests to induce purchase of a particular drug, or kickbacks to the testing laboratory to induce the referral of physicians to the sponsoring biotech company. —

Emil D. Kakkis, STAT, 25 July 2024

Verb

And after being made much, much richer for the simple act of going away, Donald is seen kicking back buck-naked at his Malibu mansion, a copy of the Los Angeles Times splayed over his pale crotch. —

J. Kim Murphy, Variety, 2 July 2024 Afterward, head to the library and curl up with a book, or kick back on the loungers around the promenade deck while you people watch. —

Kelsey Glennon, Travel + Leisure, 21 July 2024 See all Example Sentences for kickback

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'kickback.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1920, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Verb

1972, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler

The first known use of kickback was in 1920

See more words from the same year

Cite this Entry

Style

“Kickback.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/kickback. Accessed 18 Aug. 2024.

Copy Citation

Kids Definition

kickback

1 of 2 noun

kick·back ˈkik-ˌbak

: a secret return of part of a sum of money received

kick back

2 of 2 verb

: relax sense 4

Legal Definition

kickback

noun

kick·back ˈkik-ˌbak

: a payment (as of money or property) made to one in a position to open up or control a source of income for the payor

convicted of receiving kickbacks for referrals

compare bribe, payoff

Note: A kickback is specifically a payment for income received or to be received. The word is usually not restricted to a return of funds.

Last Updated: 18 Aug 2024 - Updated example sentences

Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.

Can you solve 4 words at once?

Word of the Day

impugn

See Definitions and Examples »

Get Word of the Day daily email!

kickback

noun

verb

Synonyms

Examples of kickback in a Sentence

Word History

Dictionary Entries Near kickback

Cite this Entry

Kids Definition

Legal Definition