1. An unfortunate happening that hinders or impedes; something that is thwarting or frustrating
   "The project faced a major setback when funding was cut";
   - reverse, reversal, blow, black eye
    
2. Structure where a wall or building narrows abruptly
   "The architect designed the building with a setback on the tenth floor to create a rooftop garden";
   - setoff, offset

1. Hold back to a later time
   "The launch date was set back by three days";
   - postpone, prorogue, hold over, put over, table [N. Amer], shelve, defer, remit, put off, put back
    
2. Slow down the progress of; hinder
   "The unexpected delays set back the project by several months"
    
3. [informal] Cost a certain amount
   - knock back [informal], put back [Brit, informal]

Derived forms: setbacks, sets back, set back, setting back

Type of: be, construction, cost, delay, entrammel [literary], fetter [literary], happening, hinder, impede, natural event, occurrence, occurrent, structure, trammel [literary]

Encyclopedia: Setback