1
: a checking of progress
4
: a placing of a face of a building on a line some distance to the rear of the building line or of the wall below
also
: the area produced by a setback
5
: automatic scheduled adjustment to a lower temperature setting of a thermostat
6
: the distance of a structure or other feature (such as a well or septic system) from the property line or other feature
Examples of setback in a Sentence
Noun
Despite some early setbacks, they eventually became a successful company.
The explorers persevered despite suffering setbacks that would have discouraged those with lesser ambition.
Recent Examples on the Web
Nbc News, NBC news, 11 Feb. 2026
But much of the anxiety and the lasting setbacks weren’t immediately obvious until the ice began to melt.
—Margaret Littman, Rolling Stone, 10 Feb. 2026
Torie Bosch, STAT, 7 Feb. 2026
The Trujillos believe their return to their home was set back about a year.
—Alan Gionet, CBS News, 4 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for setback
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Noun
But Kim has overcome that setback.
—Nbc News, NBC news, 11 Feb. 2026
But much of the anxiety and the lasting setbacks weren’t immediately obvious until the ice began to melt.
—Margaret Littman, Rolling Stone, 10 Feb. 2026
Verb
That is, clinicians have a duty to restrict the range of clinical options, because medical interventions with unfavorable risk/benefit profiles can set back patients’ health interests rather than protecting or promoting them.
—Torie Bosch, STAT, 7 Feb. 2026
The Trujillos believe their return to their home was set back about a year.
—Alan Gionet, CBS News, 4 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for setback
Cite this Entry
“Setback.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/setback. Accessed 14 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
setback
noun
set·back
ˈset-ˌbak 
: a slowing of progress : a temporary defeat
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