kickback

[ kik-bak ]

noun

1. a percentage of income given to a person in a position of power or influence as payment for having made the income possible: usually considered improper or unethical.
2. a rebate, usually given secretively by a seller to a buyer or to one who influenced the buyer.
3. the practice of an employer or a person in a supervisory position of taking back a portion of the wages due workers.
4. a response, usually vigorous.
5. a sudden, uncontrolled movement of a machine, tool, or other device, as on starting or in striking an obstruction:

   A kickback from a chain saw can be dangerous.

kickback

/ ˈkɪkˌbæk /

noun

1. a strong reaction
2. part of an income paid to a person having influence over the size or payment of the income, esp by some illegal arrangement

verb

1. intr to have a strong reaction
2. intr (esp of a gun) to recoil
3. to pay a kickback to (someone)

Other Words From

• anti·kickback adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of kickback¹

1930–35, Americanism; noun use of verb phrase kick back

Example Sentences

He also offered to identify partner companies that got their hands dirty by demanding kickbacks.

From New York Times

The other four men have been charged with fraud, money laundering and corruption for allegedly taking kickbacks and inflating the cost of the work carried out at Kusile power station.

From BBC

Prosecutors say that Ms Sun acted as "an undisclosed agent of the Chinese government", while her husband "facilitated the transfer of millions of dollars in kickbacks for personal gain".

From BBC

Throughout the gathering, no one pays much attention to the cameras recording, and for the hundreds of thousands of viewers at home, watching the videos feels like you’ve been ushered into a high energy kickback.

From Los Angeles Times

It required minimum qualifications and forbade political kickbacks, and eventually would lead to objective testing for many job applicants.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• gift
• graft
• payment
• payoff