English Explanatory Dictionary

backfriend

English dictionary entry

Meanings

noun
  1. A friend who supports someone; a person who has someone's back; a backer, a supporter.
  2. Synonym of hangnail (“a loose, narrow strip of nail tissue protruding from the side edge and anchored near the base of a fingernail or toenail”).
  3. A person who pretends to be someone's friend; a false friend, a secret enemy.

Pronunciation

/ˈbækˌfɹɛnd/ LL-Q1860 (eng)-Vealhurl-backfriend.wav

Word forms

backfriend backfriends back-friend

Etymology

From back (adverb or noun) + friend. Sense 3 (“person who pretends to be someone’s friend”) may allude to a person who stays back instead of coming forward to help, and so is not a true friend.

Synonyms

hangnail

Related words

a friend in need is a friend indeed all-weather friend fair-weather friend frenemy
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