back-of-the-envelope UK /ˌbæk‿əv ðiː ˈɛnvələʊp/US /ˌbæk‿əv ði ˈɛnvəˌloʊp/ adjective1 •(informal) Especially of a calculation, estimation, or other reasoning, or an idea: approximate, rough, simplified.We can do some back-of-the-envelope calculations before all the facts come in.