backhanderEnglishOxford Dictionary of Englishbackhander /ˈbakˌhandə , ˌbakˈhandə / ▸ 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 English informal a secret and illegal payment; a bribe: a fortune had been paid in backhanders to local officials.