rap back
In real, traceable use. Part of the curated seed collection; community review is coming.
Meaning · English
A notification that someone who previously passed a fingerprinting or background check has since been arrested or otherwise done something that may have or would have changed the results of the earlier check.
Where it’s used:
Used
American English
Sources & notes
Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30 via kaikki.org).
Common questions
What does “rap back” mean?
A notification that someone who previously passed a fingerprinting or background check has since been arrested or otherwise done something that may have or would have changed the results of the earlier check.
Is “rap back” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.