backhanderEnglishOxford New American Dictionarybackhander /ˈbakˌhandər, ˈbækˌhændər / ▸ noun 1 a blow made with the back of the hand: shut up, or I'll give you a backhander. ▪ a backhand stroke or shot in a game: Hunter flipped in a backhander. 2 British informal a secret payment, typically one made illegally; a bribe: a fortune had been paid in backhanders to local officials.