back·stop
ˈbak-ˌstäp 
plural backstops
1
: something at the back serving as a stop: such as
a
: a screen or fence for keeping a ball from leaving the field of play
b
: a stop (such as a pawl) that prevents a backward movement (as of a wheel)
2
: a player (such as the catcher) positioned behind the batter
3
: something or someone that provides dependable support or protection against failure or loss
As the cold war heated up, Hoover became the country's backstop against subversion.—
David M. Oshinsky
David M. Oshinsky
backstopped; backstopping; backstops
2
: to serve as a backstop to
3
: to play the position of goalkeeper for
backstop a hockey team
Examples of backstop in a Sentence
Noun
The pitch got past the catcher and rolled all the way to the backstop.
kept some gold as a backstop in case the value of the local currency collapsed
Verb
the Nobel-winning geneticist was of course backstopped in his research by a team of highly talented assistants
Recent Examples on the Web
Dan Albano, Oc Register, 27 Mar. 2026
Their value rapidly decreases as they are superseded by the next generation of chips, meaning that the ultimate backstop for all of the data-center debt—selling the data center itself—is not actually a backstop.
—Matteo Wong, The Atlantic, 26 Mar. 2026
Matt Le Cren, Chicago Tribune, 12 Mar. 2026
In an email shared with the Herald Friday night, a spokesperson for Kraft Sports & Entertainment emphasized that Kraft Group has agreed to backstop the entire amount requested.
—Lance Reynolds, Boston Herald, 6 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for backstop
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Noun
Senior catcher Leyla Ayres caught two foul balls, including a sliding grab just before the backstop in the fourth.
—Dan Albano, Oc Register, 27 Mar. 2026
Their value rapidly decreases as they are superseded by the next generation of chips, meaning that the ultimate backstop for all of the data-center debt—selling the data center itself—is not actually a backstop.
—Matteo Wong, The Atlantic, 26 Mar. 2026
Verb
Senior goalkeeper Giada McGlynn backstops a defense led by juniors Payton Cable, Sophia Duncan and Kasey Glynn and sophomore Sahana Raju.
—Matt Le Cren, Chicago Tribune, 12 Mar. 2026
In an email shared with the Herald Friday night, a spokesperson for Kraft Sports & Entertainment emphasized that Kraft Group has agreed to backstop the entire amount requested.
—Lance Reynolds, Boston Herald, 6 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for backstop
Cite this Entry
“Backstop.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/backstop. Accessed 3 Apr. 2026.
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