backboard

noun

back·​board ˈbak-ˌbȯrd 

1

: a board placed at or serving as the back of something

especially : a rounded or rectangular board behind the basket on a basketball court which serves to keep missed shots from going out-of-bounds and from which the ball can be made to rebound into the basket

2

: a stiff board on which an injured person and especially one with neck or spinal injuries is placed and immobilized in order to prevent further injury during transport

Examples of backboard in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Reaves hit a seemingly impossible baseline fadeaway in the first quarter, flinging the ball almost over the backboard. — Los Angeles Times, 9 Nov. 2026

Campbell lay face down on the turf and was not moving before he was placed on a backboard and carted off the field. — Karma Sabbah, CBS News, 4 Nov. 2026

Norman Powell’s first attempt from the top of the arc missed the rim completely, thumping sadly against the backboard. — Julia Poe, Chicago Tribune, 3 Nov. 2026

He was placed on a backboard and carted off the field in the fourth quarter in the team’s 19-15 win. — Ryan Gaydos Outkick, FOXNews.com, 2 Nov. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1761, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for backboard

• abroad
• applaud
• ballade
• defraud
• ephod
• facade
• guffawed
• outlawed
• ramrod
• roughshod
• slipshod
• tripod

Kids Definition

backboard

noun

back·​board ˈbak-ˌbōrd 

-ˌbȯrd

: a board placed at the back or serving as a back

especially : a rounded or rectangular board behind the basket on a basketball court

Medical Definition

backboard

noun

back·​board -ˌbȯrd 

: a stiff board on which an injured person and especially one with neck or spinal injuries is placed and immobilized in order to prevent further injury during transport