kickback

1 of 2

noun

kick·​back ˈkik-ˌbak 

1

: 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

2

: 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

Synonyms

Verb

• bask
• loll
• lounge
• relax
• repose
• rest

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

Another recipient was Michael Conahan, a former Pennsylvania judge who was sentenced to more than 17 years in prison in 2011 for wrongfully imprisoning juveniles in two for-profit detention centers in exchange for financial kickbacks. —Democrat-Gazette Staff From Wire Reports, arkansasonline.com, 13 Dec. 2024

Conahan was jailed alongside fellow Democrat judge Mark Ciavarella for sending thousands of children to privately run juvenile centers with disproportionate sentences in exchange for millions of dollars in kickbacks. —Stephan Pechdimaldji, Newsweek, 13 Dec. 2024

Verb

Lara Spencer isn't kicking back despite being in recovery from painful surgery on both of her feet. —Latoya Gayle, People.com, 13 Dec. 2024

Offended, Ambassador Tai kicked back on that comment, but the trade cat was out of the bag and everyone started to realize that trade was going nowhere. —Rick Helfenbein, Forbes, 8 Dec. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1920, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Verb

1972, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing kickback

• anti-kickback

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.