backwoods

[ bak-woodz ]

noun

1. (often used with a singular verb) wooded or partially uncleared and unsettled districts.
2. any remote or isolated area.

   Synonyms: backwater, bush, boonies, boondocks, woodland, wild, hinterland

adjective

1. of or relating to the backwoods.
2. unsophisticated; uncouth.

backwoods

/ ˈbækwʊdz /

plural noun

1. partially cleared, sparsely populated forests
2. any remote sparsely populated place
3. modifier of, from, or like the backwoods
4. modifier uncouth; rustic

Word History and Origins

Origin of backwoods¹

An Americanism dating back to 1700–10; back ¹ + woods ¹ (in the sense “a forest”)

Example Sentences

See the most read stories this hour » In person she has a big, Texas-girl laugh and an agreeable manner, yet Margo Martindale’s splashiest roles, Emmy-winners like backwoods crime boss Mags on TV’s “Justified” and the ex- KGB supervisor Claudia on “The Americans,” are shiveringly sinister.

From Los Angeles Times

The score subtly shifts from zydeco to rara — the tones transitioning from that of a backwoods party to a street parade — before leading to an Afro-Cuban finale that builds to the sing-along “Dig a Little Deeper.”

From Los Angeles Times

Challenged over whether the scheme was a necessary deterrent to stop small boat crossings, Sir John said: "Are they seriously saying to me that somewhere in the backwoods of some North Africa country, they actually know what the British Parliament has legislated for? I think not."

From BBC

He looks like the backwoods version of a wise wizard from the movies.

From Literature

Plus, there was the whole Backwoods Barbie conspiracy theory that had some members of the Beyhive convinced that the DJs playing Saturday evening in Diplo’s Honkytonk were actually Beyoncé.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• backcountry
• outback