Meaning & use
backache
Last updated
UK/ˈbækeɪk/
US/ˈbækeɪk/
Meaning
nouncountable or uncountable
A pain in the back, especially in the lower part.
Grammar: Can be used with 'a' or without: a backache, backache. The plural is 'backaches'.
Patterns
- have a backache
- suffer from backache
- a bad backache
I've had a backache all week from sitting at my desk.
Lifting that heavy box gave me a terrible backache.
She often gets backaches when she is stressed.
Word forms
| plural | backaches |
|---|
Common combinations
- a bad backache
- He stayed home because of a bad backache.
- suffer from backache
- Many office workers suffer from backache.
- lower backache
- Lower backache is common during pregnancy.
- get a backache
- I get a backache if I carry a heavy bag.
Synonyms and how they differ
- back pain
- More common in American English and in medical contexts; it can describe any level of pain, while 'backache' usually suggests a dull, continuous pain.
Word family
- headache noun
- A pain in the head.
- toothache noun
- A pain in a tooth.
- stomachache noun
- A pain in the stomach.
Commonly confused: backache or backpack?
backache vs backpack
A backpack is a bag you carry on your back; a backache is a pain in your back.
Practice
After lifting the sofa, I had a terrible _____.
Choose one answer.
'Backache' is a pain in the back, which fits lifting something heavy. 'Backpack' is a bag, 'backup' is a copy or support, and 'backdoor' is a door at the back.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “backache”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.
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