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backchat

To respond in a disputative, often sarcastic manner.

ˈbæk.t͡ʃæt116 viewsLast reviewed Jun 29, 2026+ Add a definition
🇬🇧 British & Irish slang
2 definitions
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Definitions

UK
#1·Apr 27, 2026UK

To respond in a disputative, often sarcastic manner.

Peter was sent to detention for backchatting the teacher.
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UK
#2·Apr 27, 2026UK

(British) Cheeky or impertinent responses, especially to criticism.

For parents

Backchat means: Cheeky or impertinent responses, especially to criticism.. There is no real cause for parental concern; it is descriptive vocabulary rather than risky behaviour. If your teen uses it, context will usually make the intent clear. A short, curious question about where they heard it is usually all that is needed to know whether to follow up. For most families this word will pass by without incident; it is more a vocabulary curiosity than a parenting concern.

For ESL learners

backchat means: Cheeky or impertinent responses, especially to criticism.. Register: neutral, standard English. A common learner mistake is using the word in a register it does not fit, or assuming a single global meaning; native speakers immediately notice when slang appears in formal contexts, so always check the surrounding register before producing it yourself. A formal-English equivalent (a synonym or descriptive phrase) is usually safer in writing. When in doubt, paraphrase rather than reuse the slang form.

Cluster: general
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🇬🇧About British & Irish slang slang

UK and Irish slang — Cockney, Scouse, Geordie, Yorkshire, Glaswegian, Brummie, Welsh, West Country, plus Irish English. Centuries of regional dialects feeding into modern British and Irish street talk.

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