Meanings
nounbackward compatibility (usually uncountable, plural backward compatibilities)
plural backward compatibilities · alternative backwards compatibility
- uncountableusuallycomputer hardwareThe capability of an electronic device, a piece of software, etc., to interoperate with older systems; (countable) an instance of this.
Antonyms: backward incompatibility
Synonyms & antonyms
nounThe capability of an electronic device, a piece of software, etc., to interoperate with older systems; (countable) an instance of this.
Opposite
Origin
From backward (adjective) + compatibility (noun).
Full word history & related roots →Translations
Chinese Mandarin 向後兼容 /向后兼容
- 向後兼容 /向后兼容 (xiànghòu jiānróng)capability of an electronic device, a piece of software, etc., to interoperate with older systems; an instance of this
Czech zpětná kompatibilita
- zpětná kompatibilitacapability of an electronic device, a piece of software, etc., to interoperate with older systems; an instance of this
Danish bagudkompatibilitet
- bagudkompatibilitetcapability of an electronic device, a piece of software, etc., to interoperate with older systems; an instance of this
Finnish taaksepäin yhteensopivuus
- taaksepäin yhteensopivuuscapability of an electronic device, a piece of software, etc., to interoperate with older systems; an instance of this
French compatibilité descendante, rétrocompatibilité
- compatibilité descendantecapability of an electronic device, a piece of software, etc., to interoperate with older systems; an instance of this
- rétrocompatibilitécapability of an electronic device, a piece of software, etc., to interoperate with older systems; an instance of this
German Abwärtskompatibilität, Rückwärtskompatibilität
- Abwärtskompatibilitätcapability of an electronic device, a piece of software, etc., to interoperate with older systems; an instance of this
- Rückwärtskompatibilitätcapability of an electronic device, a piece of software, etc., to interoperate with older systems; an instance of this
Japanese 後方互換性
- 後方互換性 (kōhō gokansei)capability of an electronic device, a piece of software, etc., to interoperate with older systems; an instance of this
Korean 하위 호환성
- 하위 호환성 (hawi hohwanseong)capability of an electronic device, a piece of software, etc., to interoperate with older systems; an instance of this
Māori hototahi whakamuri
- hototahi whakamuricapability of an electronic device, a piece of software, etc., to interoperate with older systems; an instance of this
Portuguese retrocompatibilidade, compatibilidade retroativa
- retrocompatibilidadecapability of an electronic device, a piece of software, etc., to interoperate with older systems; an instance of this
- compatibilidade retroativacapability of an electronic device, a piece of software, etc., to interoperate with older systems; an instance of this
- compatibilidade reversacapability of an electronic device, a piece of software, etc., to interoperate with older systems; an instance of this
Russian обра́тная совмести́мость
- обра́тная совмести́мость (obrátnaja sovmestímostʹ)capability of an electronic device, a piece of software, etc., to interoperate with older systems; an instance of this
Spanish retrocompatibilidad
- retrocompatibilidadcapability of an electronic device, a piece of software, etc., to interoperate with older systems; an instance of this
Swedish bakåtkompatibilitet
- bakåtkompatibilitetcapability of an electronic device, a piece of software, etc., to interoperate with older systems; an instance of this
Rhymes & wordplay
Rhymes with backward compatibility
abilityfacilityutilitydisabilitypossibilitystabilitycapabilityprobabilityflexibilitycompatibilityvulnerabilityfertilityinstabilityagilityversatilityhostilityhumilitysensibilitynobilityimpossibilityfutilitymanageabilityfragilityvirility
All rhymes →Cite this entry
APA
backward compatibility. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/backward%20compatibility
MLA
“backward compatibility.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/backward%20compatibility. Accessed November 3, 2026.
Chicago
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “backward compatibility,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/backward%20compatibility.
Source: backward compatibility on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.