kickback
KIK-bak
/ˈkɪk.bæk/
An illegal payment made to someone who has facilitated a transaction or appointment.
A kickback is usually a percentage of the profit from a deal, given back to the person who helped secure the deal.
The story behind the word. An Americanism from the early 20th century, it literally describes money that is 'kicked back' to the person who initiated the flow of funds.
Word relationships
- bribe: A bribe is often paid upfront to influence a decision; a kickback is paid after the deal is done as a 'thank you' from the profits.
- commission: A legal, transparent payment for services rendered in a transaction.
Commonly confused with
- rebate: A rebate is a legal return of part of a payment, usually offered by a manufacturer to a consumer.
Word family
- kick back (verb): To pay an illegal portion of profits to a facilitator.
Collocations
- receive a kickback
- illegal kickback
- kickback scheme
Example sentences
- "The contractor offered a 10% kickback to the city official in exchange for being awarded the bridge construction project." A description of a corrupt deal.
- "The kickback was paid in cash in a brown paper bag to avoid leaving a digital paper trail." A news headline about a scandal.
Memory hook
You 'kick' the ball to someone, and they 'kick' a piece of it 'back' to you. Money kicked back to the source.
When not to use
Do not use for a standard commission or a legal finder's fee that is disclosed and taxed.
Fun facts
- Kickbacks are a major focus of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA), which targets US companies paying officials abroad.
Explore more words
bribery, Rebate, double-cross, backstab, defraud, whistleblower
Also appears in
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