drawback

From draw +‎ back. Compare setback.

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /ˈdɹɔːˌbæk/
• (General American) IPA^(key): /ˈdɹɔˌbæk/, [ˈd͡ʒɹɔˌbæk], (intrusive r, New England) [ˈd͡ʒɹɔɹˌbæk]
• (cot–caught merger) IPA^(key): /ˈdɹɑˌbæk/
• (General Australian) IPA^(key): /ˈdɹoːˌbæk/

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• (Philippines) IPA^(key): /ˈdɹoˌbæk/

drawback (plural drawbacks)

1. A disadvantage; something that detracts or takes away.

   Synonyms: encumbrance, hindrance, nuisance, malefit

   Antonyms: benefit, advantage, boon

   Poor fuel economy is a common drawback among larger vehicles.

2. A partial refund of an import fee, as when goods are re-exported from the country that collected the fee.
   • 1796, David Steel, New and Complete Tables of the Net Duties payable, and drawbacks allowed, on goods, wares, and merchandises..., page 5:

     East-India goods, not specifically and particularly rated, are to be liable to duties and drawbacks on the value, to be taken by the gross price at the company's public sales.

3. The inhalation of a lungful of smoke from a cigarette, viewed as a skill of the practised smoker.
   • 1982, Paul Radley, My Blue-Checker Corker and Me, Sydney: Fontana/Collins, page 123:

     ‘I wanta learn to do the drawback better than Swiftie.’

• backward

drawback m (plural drawbacks)

1. drawback (disadvantage)
2. drawback (partial refund)

• “drawback”, in Trésor de la langue française informatisé [Digitized Treasury of the French Language], 2012.