1
: a return of a part of a sum received often because of confidential agreement or coercion
every city contract had been let with a ten percent kickback to city officials—
D. K. Shipler
D. K. Shipler2
: a sharp violent reaction
kicked back; kicking back; kicks back
: to assume a relaxed position or attitude
also
: to spend time relaxing : take it easy
spent the weekend just kicking back
Examples of kickback in a Sentence
Noun
Several company executives were accused of accepting kickbacks.
Verb
I plan to spend the day kicking back and watching television.
a good resort for people who want to kick back and watch others exercise strenuously
Recent Examples on the Web
Zachery Eanes, Axios, 26 Sep. 2024
And did Olszewski somehow steer that dump truck contract despite legal protections that were supposed to prevent that sort of thing since the bad old days of Dale Anderson, who in 1974 was sentenced to five years in prison for taking kickbacks from contractors.
—Baltimore Sun Editorial Board, Baltimore Sun, 2 Aug. 2024
Ana Gutierrez, Austin American-Statesman, 7 Nov. 2024
Chena Hot Springs Resort, Alaska Nearest town: Fairbanks Prices from: $20 for camping / $200 for rooms a night
Want to kick back in a remote hot spring while the green tendrils of the Northern Lights dance above your head?
—Emily Pennington, Outside Online, 6 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for kickback 
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Noun
Here are some of the biggest festivals and events happening:
🏳️🌈 Celebrate Durham Pride with the music festival and market on Saturday and its annual parade and community kickback on Sunday.
—Zachery Eanes, Axios, 26 Sep. 2024
And did Olszewski somehow steer that dump truck contract despite legal protections that were supposed to prevent that sort of thing since the bad old days of Dale Anderson, who in 1974 was sentenced to five years in prison for taking kickbacks from contractors.
—Baltimore Sun Editorial Board, Baltimore Sun, 2 Aug. 2024
Verb
So kick back, relax, and let someone else do the cooking.
—Ana Gutierrez, Austin American-Statesman, 7 Nov. 2024
Chena Hot Springs Resort, Alaska Nearest town: Fairbanks Prices from: $20 for camping / $200 for rooms a night
Want to kick back in a remote hot spring while the green tendrils of the Northern Lights dance above your head?
—Emily Pennington, Outside Online, 6 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for kickback
Articles Related to kickback
Dictionary Entries Near kickback
Cite this Entry
“Kickback.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/kickback. Accessed 4 Dec. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
kickback
1 of 2 noun
kick·back
ˈkik-ˌbak 
: a secret return of part of a sum of money received
kick back
2 of 2 verbLegal Definition
kickback
noun
kick·back
ˈkik-ˌbak
: a payment (as of money or property) made to one in a position to open up or control a source of income for the payor
convicted of receiving kickbacks for referrals
compare bribe, payoff
Note: A kickback is specifically a payment for income received or to be received. The word is usually not restricted to a return of funds.
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share