Meaning: A card game played in casinos.

Part of speech: noun

Example: They enjoyed a game of baccarat at the casino.

Category: Games › Casino Games

Synonyms: card game

Meaning: A type of bacteria, often rod-shaped.

Part of speech: noun

Example: The bacillus can cause various infections.

Category: Science › Microbiology

Synonyms: bacterium

Meaning: The seats in a legislative assembly occupied by less influential members.

Part of speech: noun

Example: He sat on the back bench during the debate.

Category: Politics › Legislature

Synonyms: minority seats

Meaning: A member of a legislative assembly who is not in a leadership position.

Part of speech: noun

Example: The back bencher raised an important question.

Category: Politics › Legislature

Synonyms: junior member

Meaning: Very physically demanding or exhausting.

Part of speech: adjective

Example: The back breaking work left him tired.

Category: Work › Labor

Synonyms:

• exhausting
• strenuous

Antonyms: easy

Meaning: A copy of a publication that is no longer current.

Part of speech: noun

Example: I found a back copy of the magazine in the attic.

Category: Media › Publications

Synonyms: old issue

Meaning: To assign an earlier date to a document or event.

Part of speech: verb

Example: They had to back date the contract to make it valid.

Category: Business › Legal

Synonyms: retrodate

Meaning: A current of air that flows back into a room.

Part of speech: noun

Example: The back draught made the room feel chilly.

Category: Science › Physics

Synonyms: draft

Meaning: To refill an excavated area with earth or material.

Part of speech: verb

Example: They will back fill the hole after the pipe is installed.

Category: Construction › Excavation

Synonyms: refill

Meaning: Light that comes from behind the subject, often used in photography.

Part of speech: noun

Example: The back light created a beautiful silhouette.

Category: Arts › Photography

Synonyms: backlighting

Meaning: A competitor who is at the back of a race or competition.

Part of speech: noun

Example: The back marker struggled to keep up with the leaders.

Category: Sports › Racing

Synonyms: laggard

Antonyms: front runner

Meaning: A reverse spin applied to a ball in sports like tennis or billiards.

Part of speech: noun

Example: He used back spin to control the ball's movement.

Category: Sports › Tennis

Synonyms: reverse spin

Meaning: The backward movement of a golf club or racket before hitting the ball.

Part of speech: noun

Example: A good back swing is essential for a successful shot.

Category: Sports › Golf

Synonyms: backswing

Meaning: A part of a river or lake that is not flowing; stagnant water.

Part of speech: noun

Example: The fish prefer to stay in the back water where it's calm.

Category: Nature › Hydrology

Synonyms:

• stagnant water
• still water

Meaning: A backdrop used in theater or photography.

Part of speech: noun

Example: The backcloth set the scene for the play.

Category: Arts › Theater

Synonyms: backdrop

Meaning: To have the opposite effect of what was intended.

Part of speech: verb

Example: His plan to surprise her backfired when she found out.

Category: Business › Strategy

Synonyms:

• fail
• misfire

Meaning: Indirect or ambiguous, often in a way that is insulting.

Part of speech: adjective

Example: His backhanded compliment made her feel uncomfortable.

Category: Language › Communication

Synonyms:

• insincere
• double-edged

Antonyms: straightforward

Meaning: A strong negative reaction to something.

Part of speech: noun

Example: The new policy faced a backlash from the community.

Category: Politics › Public Opinion

Synonyms:

• reaction
• resistance

Antonyms: support

Meaning: Focusing on the past rather than the future.

Part of speech: adjective

Example: His backward-looking approach to policy is outdated.

Category: Politics

Synonyms:

• nostalgic
• regressive

Antonyms:

• forward-looking
• progressive

Meaning: Able to work with older versions of a system or product.

Part of speech: adjective

Example: The new software is backwards compatible with the previous version.

Category: Technology › Software

Synonyms:

• legacy support
• backward compatible

Meaning: Light and playful conversation.

Part of speech: noun

Example: Their badinage made the meeting enjoyable.

Category: General

Synonyms:

• banter
• joking

Meaning: A state of confusion or perplexity.

Part of speech: noun

Example: Her bafflement was evident when she saw the unexpected results.

Category: General

Synonyms:

• confusion
• perplexity

Meaning: British Academy of Film and Television Arts, an organization that awards excellence in film and television.

Part of speech: noun

Example: She won a BAFTA for her performance in the movie.

Category: Arts › Film

Synonyms:

• film award
• television award

Meaning: An expression of disdain or disbelief.

Part of speech: interjection

Example: Bah! I don't believe that story.

Category: General

Synonyms:

• humbug
• nonsense

Meaning: A place where bread and other baked goods are made.

Part of speech: noun

Example: The bake house smells wonderful.

Category: Food › Bakeries

Synonyms:

• bakery
• baking shop

Meaning: A record of all economic transactions between a country and the rest of the world.

Part of speech: noun

Example: The balance of payments shows the country's financial health.

Category: Economics › International Trade

Synonyms: BOP

Meaning: The difference between a country's exports and imports.

Part of speech: noun

Example: A positive balance of trade indicates more exports than imports.

Category: Economics › International Trade

Synonyms: trade balance

Meaning: A financial statement that summarizes a company's assets, liabilities, and equity.

Part of speech: noun

Example: The balance sheet provides a snapshot of the company's financial health.

Category: Business › Finance

Synonyms: financial statement

Meaning: Nonsense or foolish talk.

Part of speech: noun

Example: What he said was pure balderdash.

Category: General

Synonyms: nonsense

Meaning: In a straightforward or blunt manner.

Part of speech: adverb

Example: She baldly stated her opinion without hesitation.

Category: General

Synonyms: bluntly

Meaning: A form of musical theater that combines songs with spoken dialogue.

Part of speech: noun

Example: Ballad opera was popular in the 18th century.

Category: Arts › Theater

Synonyms: musical

Meaning: Relating to ballet or resembling its style.

Part of speech: adjective

Example: Her movements were balletic and graceful.

Category: Arts › Dance

Synonyms: graceful

Meaning: Showing courage or boldness.

Part of speech: adjective

Example: It was a ballsy move to start a business during a recession.

Category: Business

Synonyms:

• bold
• daring

Antonyms:

• timid
• cautious

Meaning: Excessive publicity or fuss.

Part of speech: noun

Example: The ballyhoo surrounding the event attracted many attendees.

Category: Arts › Media

Synonyms:

• hype
• excitement

Antonyms:

• indifference
• apathy

Meaning: A fragrant resin used in perfumes and medicines.

Part of speech: noun

Example: The balsam tree produces a sweet-smelling resin.

Category: Medicine › Botany

Synonyms:

• resin
• ointment

Meaning: Relating to the Baltic Sea or its surrounding countries.

Part of speech: adjective

Example: The Baltic states include Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania.

Category: Geography › Regions

Synonyms:

• northern
• coastal

Meaning: To deceive or trick someone.

Part of speech: verb

Example: He tried to bamboozle me with his clever words.

Category: Language › Communication

Synonyms:

• deceive
• fool

Antonyms:

• enlighten
• inform

Meaning: Lacking originality; boring.

Part of speech: adjective

Example: The movie was criticized for its banal plot.

Category: Arts › Literature

Synonyms:

• trite
• commonplace

Antonyms:

• original
• unique

Meaning: A region with a mild climate suitable for growing bananas.

Part of speech: noun

Example: Hawaii is part of the banana belt.

Category: Geography › Climate

Synonyms:

• tropical zone
• banana region

Meaning: A person who conducts or leads a band, especially in a military context.

Part of speech: noun

Example: The band master led the parade with great enthusiasm.

Category: Arts › Music

Synonyms:

• conductor
• band leader