Meaning & use
kickback
Last updated
Meanings
nouncountableinformaldisapproving
A secret and illegal payment made to someone in return for helping or arranging a deal.
Grammar: Countable: he took kickbacks from several suppliers.
Patterns
- a kickback from someone
- take a kickback
The official was arrested for taking kickbacks from building contractors.
The supplier paid a kickback to win the city contract.
Investigators found that every contract included a kickback.
nouncountable or uncountabletechnical
A sudden, violent backward movement, such as the recoil of a gun or a tool.
Grammar: Usually singular for one event: the kickback of the saw.
Patterns
- the kickback of something
The kickback of the chainsaw threw the worker off balance.
A strong kickback from the rifle bruised his shoulder.
Wear gloves to protect against kickback.
nouncountableinformalAmericanslang
A relaxed social gathering, often at home.
Grammar: Informal and mostly American.
Patterns
- have a kickback
- host a kickback
We are having a kickback at my place on Saturday.
The team's kickback after the game lasted until midnight.
She hosted a small kickback for her coworkers.
Word forms
| plural | kickbacks |
|---|
Common combinations
- take a kickback
- The manager was fired for taking a kickback.
- pay a kickback
- The firm paid a kickback to get the contract.
- receive kickbacks
- He was accused of receiving kickbacks from vendors.
- kickback scheme
- Police uncovered a kickback scheme in the department.
- illegal kickback
- Prosecutors called the payment an illegal kickback.
Synonyms and how they differ
- bribe
- A bribe is paid to get a favor in advance, while a kickback is typically paid back out of money earned from a deal.
- payoff
- Payoff is a general informal word for a payment that buys silence or help, whereas kickback is tied to a business deal.
- backhander
- Backhander is the British informal word for a secret payment, close in meaning to kickback.
Word family
Commonly confused: kickback or commission?
kickback vs commission
A commission is a legal payment openly agreed for a sale, while a kickback is secret and improper.
Practice
The inspector was fired after he accepted a ___ from the company he was supposed to be investigating.
Choose one answer.
A kickback is an improper, secret payment. A commission is tempting, but it is legal and openly arranged.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “kickback”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.