noun

kickback

KIHK-bak

noun

A secret, illegal payment made in return for helping arrange a deal or contract — a type of bribe.

"The contractor paid a kickback to the official who approved the deal."

"Investigators found evidence of kickbacks between the supplier and the purchasing manager."

A sudden, forceful backward jerk of a tool or machine, such as a saw blade catching and snapping back toward the operator.

"The chainsaw kickback nearly hit him in the face."

"Always hold the tool firmly to control any kickback."

How to Use Kickback

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishEither an illegal secret payment for a favour, or the violent backward jolt of a machine or blade.

Common mistake

In business contexts it always implies something illegal or unethical — it is not a neutral word for "commission."

Common pairings

pay a kickback receive kickbacks chainsaw kickback

kickbacks plural

Study it as flashcards or scroll it in Flow — saved to your collection.

Can you complete this real example?

The contractor paid a _____ to the official who approved the deal.

From "kick" + "back" — literally something that kicks back at you, whether a payment returned in secret or a tool recoiling.