backwoods
/ˈbæk.wʊdz/ IELTSAcademic
noun
Backwoods are remote country areas far from towns and cities. They often have few roads, services, or modern comforts.
- They live in the backwoods of Canada.
- The road goes deep into the backwoods.
- She grew up in the backwoods.
Adinary Nuance
Backwoods is more specific than countryside. It suggests a remote, undeveloped place, often with forests and few services. It is also more physical than wilderness, which can sound larger and less inhabited. Writers choose backwoods when they want a rustic, isolated feel.
In other languages
- Vietnamese
- vùng hẻo lánh
- Spanish
- zona remota
- Chinese
- 偏远地区
- Japanese
- 奥地
- Korean
- 오지
Etymology
Backwoods is an American English word from the late 1700s. It combines back, meaning “far away,” and woods, meaning a forested area.
Common phrases
the backwoodsdeep in the backwoodsbackwoods areabackwoods life
Synonyms
Related words
Frequently asked questions
- Is backwoods the same as countryside?
- Not exactly. Backwoods means a more remote and undeveloped area than countryside.
- Is backwoods formal or informal?
- It is neutral in many contexts, but it sounds more literary or descriptive than everyday speech.
- Can I use backwoods in writing?
- Yes, especially when you want to describe isolation, nature, or a rustic setting.