backward compatibility UK /ˈbækwɜːd kəmˌpætəˈbɪlɪti/US /ˈbækwɜɹd kəmˌpætəˈbɪləti/ noun1 •The capability of an electronic device, a piece of software, etc., to interoperate with older systems; (countable) an instance of this. formsbackward compatibilities
