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
Christie D’zurilla, Los Angeles Times, 27 May 2025
The vendor allegedly paid $1 million in kickbacks to Gatlin, who told the vendor in email how to falsify invoices, according to the news release.
—Angie Dimichele, Sun Sentinel, 21 May 2025
Toni Sutton, People.com, 17 May 2025
Memorial Day ushers in the unofficial start of summer and gives us a little extra time to kick back with a book.
—Holly Corbett, Forbes.com, 26 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for kickback
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Noun
Green had been embezzling from 2018 into 2020, when someone attempted to blackmail him over the $2.2 million in kickbacks, according to AllHipHop.
—Christie D’zurilla, Los Angeles Times, 27 May 2025
The vendor allegedly paid $1 million in kickbacks to Gatlin, who told the vendor in email how to falsify invoices, according to the news release.
—Angie Dimichele, Sun Sentinel, 21 May 2025
Verb
And this chaise lounge will be the ultimate spot to kick back, relax, and soak up the sun in style.
—Toni Sutton, People.com, 17 May 2025
Memorial Day ushers in the unofficial start of summer and gives us a little extra time to kick back with a book.
—Holly Corbett, Forbes.com, 26 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for kickback
Cite this Entry
“Kickback.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/kickback. Accessed 5 Jun. 2025.
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.
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