backwater
UK: ˈbækˌwɔːtə | US: ˈbækˌwɔːtər
n. 1. A body of stagnant water connected to a river or stream but with little or no current.
n. 2. A place or condition regarded as isolated, undeveloped, or backward.
The word "backwater" originated in the early 17th century, combining "back" (referring to a rear or secondary position) and "water" (liquid). It initially described a stagnant body of water branching off a main river, where the flow was reversed or slowed. By the 19th century, it metaphorically extended to describe isolated or underdeveloped places, reflecting the idea of being "cut off" from progress.
The small village was a backwater, untouched by modern technology.
We canoed through a quiet backwater, away from the river’s strong current.
The town’s economy stagnated, turning it into a cultural backwater.
The marsh formed a backwater where wildlife thrived.
He grew up in a backwater but later moved to the bustling city.