backstroke

noun

back·​stroke ˈbak-ˌstrōk 

: a swimming stroke executed on the back and usually consisting of alternating circular arm pulls and a flutter kick

backstroker

ˈbak-ˌstrō-kər 

noun

Examples of backstroke in a Sentence

She got into the pool and began to do the backstroke.

She won the 50-meter backstroke.

Recent Examples on the Web

Coventry was the back-to-back Olympic champion in the 200-meter backstroke in 2004 and 2008. —Gerald Imray, Chicago Tribune, 20 Mar. 2025

Coventry competed in five Olympic Games, winning two gold medals in the 200-meter backstroke, seven individual medals total, the most by an African athlete in any sport and equaling the most by a female swimmer. —Scott M. Reid, Orange County Register, 20 Mar. 2025

Coventry won back-to-back titles in the 200-meter backstroke at the 2004 Athens Olympics and in Beijing four years later. —Ryan Canfield, Fox News, 20 Mar. 2025

Kosin also won the 100 backstroke (48.56) and was second in the 100 freestyle (45.73). —Tom Schardin, Twin Cities, 7 Feb. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1863, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for backstroke

• awoke
• baroque
• bespoke
• colloque
• convoke
• evoke
• invoke
• keystroke
• kinfolk
• kinsfolk
• menfolk
• provoke

Kids Definition

backstroke

noun

back·​stroke -ˌstrōk 

: a swimming stroke made by a swimmer who lies in the water facing upward