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

Oklahoma forward Derrion Reid banked in a fadeaway jumper off the backboard. —Matt Byrne, Arkansas Online, 28 Jan. 2026

The size discrepancy did not phase the Bulldog, who bounced the ball off the backboard for the go-ahead shot. —Olivia Sayer, AJC.com, 23 Jan. 2026

Porter opened the second quarter with a steal, driving in for a thunderous dunk that rattled the rim and pushed the backboard past the end line before swinging back. —Rick Armstrong, Chicago Tribune, 23 Jan. 2026

Kevin Durant swatted it against the backboard, and then there was an inadvertent whistle during a scramble for the loose ball. —Zach Harper, New York Times, 23 Jan. 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