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
D. K. Shipler2
: a sharp violent reaction
kicked back; kicking back; kicks back
: 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
Jason Meisner, Chicago Tribune, 5 Dec. 2024
Prosecutors had alleged that Daggett had ties to the Genovese crime family as far back as 2000, and the union has long been accused of handing no-show jobs to mobsters' relatives and providing kickbacks.
—Michael Ruiz, Fox News, 4 Oct. 2024
Gerald Imray, Los Angeles Times, 2 Dec. 2024
And when you're done cleaning, be sure to kick back and relax fireside with $10 off a tabletop Mesa Solo stove.
—Chaunie Brusie, Rn, Parents, 28 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for kickback 
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Noun
In all, the two collected about $26,700 in kickbacks from 2022 to earlier this year, the indictment alleged.
—Jason Meisner, Chicago Tribune, 5 Dec. 2024
Prosecutors had alleged that Daggett had ties to the Genovese crime family as far back as 2000, and the union has long been accused of handing no-show jobs to mobsters' relatives and providing kickbacks.
—Michael Ruiz, Fox News, 4 Oct. 2024
Verb
The trip was kicked back to 2024 and delayed again this October because of Hurricane Milton, reinforcing a sentiment among Africans that their continent is still low priority.
—Gerald Imray, Los Angeles Times, 2 Dec. 2024
And when you're done cleaning, be sure to kick back and relax fireside with $10 off a tabletop Mesa Solo stove.
—Chaunie Brusie, Rn, Parents, 28 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for kickback
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Dictionary Entries Near kickback
Cite this Entry
“Kickback.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/kickback. Accessed 15 Dec. 2024.
Copy CitationKids 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 verbLegal 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.
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