What does backstabbing mean?
Backstabbing refers to the treacherous act of harming, undermining, or betraying someone who trusts you — typically a friend, colleague, or ally — while maintaining an outward appearance of loyalty or friendship. The image behind the word is literal and vivid: striking someone in the back rather than facing them openly, implying both cowardice and deceit. It functions chiefly as a noun ('the project was undone by office backstabbing') and as a gerund of the verb backstab ('she was backstabbing her mentor for months'). The word carries an intensely negative connotation and appears most often in informal and journalistic writing about workplace politics, competitive professions, and personal relationships. Its enduring usefulness lies in capturing a specific kind of disloyalty — one hidden behind a mask of friendliness — that plainer words like 'betrayal' do not quite convey.
Treacherous betrayal of a person who trusts the betrayer, typically involving secret attacks combined with outward friendliness.
"The committee's decision was shaped less by debate than by quiet backstabbing."
Almost always pejorative.
Present participle of backstab: to attack or undermine someone secretly, especially while appearing friendly to them.
"He spent months backstabbing his way to the top of the firm."
Rare; the noun is normally used as an uncountable mass noun referring to the general behavior.
"The office had seen too many backstabblings to trust anyone new."
The word turns an ordinary kitchen utensil motion into shorthand for humanity's favorite workplace sin — and 'office backstabbing' appears in print within decades of the term's invention in the early twentieth century.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of backstabbing
Backstabbing derives from the verb 'backstab', a compound of the Old English 'bæc' (back) and 'stab' (to pierce with a pointed weapon). The compound emerged in English in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries as a figurative extension of the literal image of attacking someone from behind. It quickly became a standard metaphor for covert treachery, particularly in descriptions of workplace and political intrigue. Related compounds such as 'backfire', 'backlash', and 'backlog' share the same Old English root 'bæc'.
Related word forms
How backstabbing is actually used
Informal to neutral register; strongly negative connotation. Most common in discussions of workplace politics, friendships, and organizational intrigue. The plural 'backstabblings' exists but is rare.
Easily confused with backstabbing
Backslapping means hearty, friendly congratulation, whereas backstabbing means covert treacherous betrayal — nearly opposite behaviors despite the similar sound.