backwardness
backwardness Lexical Profile
backwardness Game Scores & Validity
• noun
The state or condition of being less advanced in economic, technological, or social development than other regions or standards.
"The historian argued that the region's economic backwardness was the result of decades of geographic isolation and poor infrastructure."
Slowness in learning, understanding, or intellectual development (now dated and often considered offensive when applied to people).
"Early educational reformers sought to address academic backwardness through individualized tutoring rather than punishment."
Shyness, diffidence, or reluctance to act or come forward.
"Despite his initial backwardness in social gatherings, he proved to be an eloquent speaker once he felt comfortable."
Word Nuance & Usage
When applied to individuals to describe intellectual disability or to cultures and nations to describe developmental differences, 'backwardness' is widely considered dated and pejorative in modern English; neutral terms like 'underdevelopment' (for economies) or 'developmental delay' (for individuals) are preferred.