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Definition of backbeat

backbeat

/ˈbækˌbiːt/
back · beat
Plural:backbeats
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backbeat Lexical Profile

backbeat Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

In popular music, a strong rhythmic accent placed on the second and fourth beats of a four-beat measure, typically played on the snare drum.

Example

"The drummer laid down a driving backbeat that got everyone in the club dancing."

Synonyms
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Antonyms
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• Nearby Words

bachelorhood
back
backache
backbeat
backbench
backbencher
backbenches

Word Origin & Etymology

Coined in American English during the mid-20th century with the rise of jazz, rhythm and blues, and rock and roll, combining 'back' and 'beat' to describe the rhythmic emphasis on the normally unaccented second and fourth beats of a measure.

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Backbeat. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/backbeat
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