backward pass

noun

A pass thrown backwards instead of forward, equivalent in the rules to a hand-off.

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Meanings

nounbackward pass (plural backward passes)

plural backward passes

  1. American footballA pass thrown backwards instead of forward, equivalent in the rules to a hand-off.
  2. machine learningThe step of the backpropagation algorithm wherein the error gradient is applied in reverse order through the neural network by recursive application of the chain rule.
Cite this entry
APA

backward pass. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/backward%20pass

MLA

“backward pass.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/backward%20pass. Accessed November 4, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “backward pass,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/backward%20pass.

Source: backward pass on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.