Backfriend

/ˈbækfrɛnd/ noun

Definition

A false friend or someone who pretends friendship but acts against your interests; a backstabber.

Etymology

From 'back' + 'friend,' likely formed in Middle English to describe insincere relationships. The 'back' suggests betrayal.

Kelly Says

This archaic term shows that the concept of 'fake friends' has been around for centuries—Shakespeare and his contemporaries would have known exactly what you meant if you called someone a 'backfriend.'

Related Words

Explore More Words

Get the Word Orb API

Complete word intelligence in one call. Free tier — 50 lookups/day.