backwater
noun /ˈbækwɔːtə(r)/
/ˈbækwɔːtər/
- a part of a river away from the main part, where the water only moves slowly
- (often disapproving) a place that is away from the places where most things happen, and is therefore not affected by events, progress, new ideas, etc.
- a sleepy/quiet/rural backwater
- The region became more and more of an economic backwater.