backwardnessEnglish → FrenchOxford English–Frenchbackwardness /BrE ˈbakwədnəs , AmE ˈbækwərdnəs / noun 1 (of intellect) arriération f; (of culture, economy) retard m 2 (shyness) timidité f 3 (reticence) hésitation f (in doing à faire)