What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
backfall
Example
After months of hard work, the team experienced a backfall in their performance. [backfall: noun]
Example
She was disappointed by the backfall in her grades after not studying enough. [backfall: noun]
relapse
Example
He had a relapse and started smoking again after being smoke-free for six months. [relapse: noun]
Example
She relapsed into her old habits of procrastination and missed the deadline. [relapsed: verb]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Relapse is more commonly used than backfall in everyday language, especially in medical and psychological contexts. Backfall is less common and has a broader application.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between backfall and relapse?
Both backfall and relapse are generally used in formal and informal contexts. However, relapse is more commonly used in medical and psychological settings, which may give it a slightly more formal tone in those contexts.
