backslide

verb

back·​slide ˈbak-ˌslīd 

backslid ˈbak-ˌslid  ; backslid or backslidden ˈbak-ˌsli-dᵊn  ; backsliding ˈbak-ˌslī-diŋ 

intransitive verb

1

: to lapse morally or in the practice of religion

2

: to revert to a worse condition : retrogress

backslide noun

backslider

ˈbak-ˌslī-dər 

noun

Examples of backslide in a Sentence

Smokers who quit often backslide within a year.

Recent Examples on the Web

In recent years, however, with backsliding immunization rates, health officials are starting to see the effects of skipping shots. —Sara Moniuszko, CBS News, 27 Jan. 2025

The president-elect’s own secretary of state designate, Marco Rubio, in the first Trump administration wrote to President Trump expressing his concerns about democratic erosion, backsliding and the relationship between the Hungarians and the Russians. —Lulu Garcia-Navarro, New York Times, 16 Jan. 2025

By Angela Haupt January 6, 2025 11:33 AM EST The way people with disabilities are treated is backsliding in the U.S., advocates say. —Angela Haupt, TIME, 6 Jan. 2025

Now that the company is pulling back on DEI, there will likely be backsliding. —Nathan Bomey, Axios, 11 Feb. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1554, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for backslide

• abide
• allied
• applied
• aside
• astride
• azide
• backside
• bankside
• bastide
• bayside
• bedside
• belied

Kids Definition

backslide

verb

back·​slide ˈbak-ˌslīd 

backslid -ˌslid  ; backslid or backslidden -ˌslid-ᵊn  ; backsliding -ˌslīd-iŋ 

1

: to go back to a less religious or less moral condition

2

: to go back to a worse condition

backslide noun

backslider

-ˌslīd-ər 

noun