back judge

noun

: a football official whose duties include keeping the game's official time and identifying eligible pass receivers

Examples of back judge in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Tom, who worked as a WNBA official for 22 years, is the back judge, and Mark and Jim are the side judges. Tris Wykes, Twin Cities, 21 Oct. 2025 Brawley’s offense waited for the back judge to signal five seconds left on the play clock before snapping. The San Diego Union Tribune, San Diego Union-Tribune, 31 Aug. 2025 This is the first challenge since the Supreme Court scaled back judges’ ability to issue nationwide injunctions. Cate Martel, The Hill, 10 July 2025 The referee, who controls when a game starts and stops and can overrule a request for a break, communicates with the back judge, who is in constant contact with two sideline officials standing near the 20-yard line. Ken Belson, New York Times, 8 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for back judge

Word History

First Known Use

1947, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of back judge was in 1947

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Back judge.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/back%20judge. Accessed 9 Nov. 2025.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!