sweepback
C2Technical / Aviation
Definition
Meaning
The backward angle of an aircraft's wing or other surface from the root to the tip.
A design feature where a structure, especially an aircraft wing or stabilizer, is angled backward from its base or point of attachment.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Primarily a technical noun in aviation and aerodynamics. Can be used attributively as an adjective (e.g., sweepback angle). Not to be confused with the phrasal verb 'sweep back'.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning. Both use the term identically in technical contexts.
Connotations
Purely technical; no regional connotations.
Frequency
Equally low frequency in both dialects, confined to engineering and aviation contexts.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
The [NOUN] has a [ADJECTIVE] sweepback.They designed the wing with [NUMBER]-degree sweepback.Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “None”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Rare. Might appear in aerospace manufacturing or defence contracting reports.
Academic
Used in aeronautical engineering, fluid dynamics, and aircraft design textbooks/papers.
Everyday
Virtually never used in everyday conversation.
Technical
Core term in aviation, aerodynamics, and mechanical design for high-speed aircraft.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- Not applicable as a standalone verb.
American English
- Not applicable as a standalone verb.
adverb
British English
- Not applicable as an adverb.
American English
- Not applicable as an adverb.
adjective
British English
- The aircraft featured a sweepback wing design for supersonic flight.
American English
- The fighter jet's sweepback configuration reduces drag at high speeds.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- This aeroplane's wings point backwards. (Concept only, term not introduced.)
- The wings of a fast jet are often angled backwards.
- The engineers increased the wing's sweepback to improve its high-speed performance.
- A greater degree of sweepback delays the onset of shock waves, mitigating compressibility effects near Mach 1.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a SWEEPing motion BACKwards. The wing sweeps back from the fuselage.
Conceptual Metaphor
ANGLES ARE DIRECTIONS (The wing points/directs itself backward).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not confuse with 'обратная подмета' (nonsense). The correct technical equivalent is 'стреловидность' (as in 'стреловидное крыло').
Common Mistakes
- Using it as a verb (e.g., 'The wing sweepbacks'). It is a noun. Confusing it with the phrasal verb 'to sweep back' (e.g., 'sweep back your hair').
Practice
Quiz
In which field is the term 'sweepback' most precisely used?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
They are related. 'Sweepback' is the technical noun for the design feature. 'Swept back' is the adjectival phrase (e.g., swept-back wings).
No. The term is a noun (and an attributive adjective). The action would be 'to sweep back', which is a separate phrasal verb with a different meaning.
Its primary purposes are to delay drag rise at high subsonic and supersonic speeds, improve longitudinal stability, and sometimes to aid in positioning the wing's centre of lift.
No. It is a highly specialised C2-level technical term. Most learners will never need it unless they study or work in aerospace engineering.