backswimmerEnglishOxford New American Dictionarybackswimmer /ˈbakˌswimər, ˈbækˌswɪmər / ▸ noun a predatory aquatic bug that swims on its back using its long back legs as oars. It is able to capture large prey such as tadpoles and fish. See also water boatman. Family Notonectidae, suborder Heteroptera: Notonecta and other genera.