Meanings
plural backscatters · alternative back scatter · alternative back-scatter
- countableuncountablenatural sciencesThe deflection of particles or radiation through angles greater than 90 degrees to the original direction of travel.
- countableuncountableThe particles or radiation deflected in this manner.
- countableuncountablegovernmentA portion of the energy of electromagnetic radiation such as a laser or radio waves that is scattered back in the direction of the source of radiation by an obscurant.
- countableuncountablecomputingThe sending of IP packets to essentially random addresses in response to incoming packets that have a spoofed origin.
Synonyms: blowback, outscatter
present singular third person backscatters · participle present backscattering · participle past backscattered · past backscattered · alternative back scatter · alternative back-scatter
- ambitransitiveTo scatter particles or radiation back to the direction from which they originate.
Synonyms & antonyms
nounThe sending of IP packets to essentially random addresses in response to incoming packets that have a spoofed origin.
Origin
Back-formation from backscattering.
Full word history & related roots →Translations
Finnish takaisinsironta, takaisinsironta
- takaisinsirontadeflection
- takaisinsirontamilitary: portion of energy that is scattered back
- takaisinsirontascattered particles or radiation
- takaisinsirotato scatter back
Malay serak balik
- serak balikto scatter back
Russian обратное рассе́яние, рассе́яние наза́д
- обратное рассе́яние (obratnoje rasséjanije)deflection
- рассе́яние наза́д (rasséjanije nazád)deflection
- обратное рассе́яние (obratnoje rasséjanije)military: portion of energy that is scattered back
Cite this entry
backscatter. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/backscatter
“backscatter.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/backscatter. Accessed November 3, 2026.
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “backscatter,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/backscatter.
Source: backscatter on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.