For commerce and contracts, see Statutory holdback.

In criminal investigations, a holdback is a piece of information about a crime which is known to police but not released to the public. The purpose of a holdback is to help police recognize false confessions. Common holdbacks include specific details of the modus operandi and the appearance of the crime scene.

On a carriage, a holdback is a device, such as an iron catch on the shaft with a looped strap, that enables a horse to back or hold back a vehicle.

arrest, arrestation, arrestment, bearing rein, bit, blockage, blocking, brake, chain, check, checkrein, chock, clog, clogging, closing up, closure, constriction, countercheck, cramp, curb, curb bit, damper, delay, detainment, detention, doorstop, drag, drag sail, drift anchor, drift sail, drogue, fetter, fixation, foot-dragging, hampering, hindering, hindrance, holdup, impediment, inhibition, interference, interruption, let, martingale, negativism, nuisance value, obstruction, obstructionism, occlusion, opposition, pelham, remora, repression, resistance, restraint, restriction, retardation, retardment, scotch, sea anchor, setback, shackle, snaffle, spoke, squeeze, stay, stop, stranglehold, stricture, suppression, trammel