Definition

1. Adjective:
   • Angled backward from the point of attachment: Describes something, especially an aircraft wing, that is set at a backward angle relative to the main body or fuselage.
   • Used of hair: Describes hair that is styled or combed backward from the face.

Usage Examples

• Adjective:
  • The fighter jet's sweptback wings are designed for high-speed flight.
  • He has a sweptback hairstyle that gives him a sleek look.

Advanced Usage

• Aerodynamic Design: In aviation, "sweptback" is a technical term describing a wing configuration that improves performance at high speeds by delaying the onset of shock waves.
  • The sweptback design of the wings reduces drag as the aircraft approaches supersonic speeds.

Variants and Related Words

• Swept-back (adjective): An alternative hyphenated spelling with the same meaning.
  • The aircraft featured a swept-back wing design.
• Sweepback (noun): The angle or degree to which a wing is swept back.
  • The engineer calculated the optimal sweepback for the new model.

Synonyms

• Backswept: Angled or directed backward.
• Raked: Slanting, especially in a backward direction (often used in automotive or architectural contexts).

Antonyms

• Straight-wing: Having wings that extend perpendicularly from the fuselage.
• Forward-swept: Angled forward from the point of attachment.

Adjective

1. used of hair
2. (especially of aircraft wings) angled rearward from the point of attachment
   • aircraft with sweptback wings