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

Example Sentences

Recent Examples on the Web

His first was from a few feet behind the wing and his second came off an arena-shaking block off the backboard. —Nick Alvarez | [e-mail], al, 18 Mar. 2023

Indiana had one last chance with .7 left and Trayce Jackson-Davis nearly hit a half-court shot that bounced off the backboard and rim. —Evan Frank, The Indianapolis Star, 5 Mar. 2023

Thomas, who averages 10.6 points per game, hit the shot, ran to the other end of the court and smacked his hand on the backboard in celebration before being mobbed by his teammates. —Shelby Dermer, The Enquirer, 2 Mar. 2023

Bryce Hopkins looks like real deal: Bryce Hopkins, the Providence forward who transferred after a year at Kentucky, leads the Friars in scoring (15.7 points per game) and on the backboard with 9.5 rebounds per game. —Joe Arruda, Hartford Courant, 3 Jan. 2023

That 16-second clip, which showed Moore swatting Falcons guard Carter Murphy’s layup attempt off the backboard as time expired, was an apt capper to a night the Spartans won’t soon forget. —Connor Letourneau, San Francisco Chronicle, 6 Mar. 2023

Klay Thompson shook the internet on Sunday night with a long-distance 3-point shot that banked off the backboard. —Victoria Hernandez, USA TODAY, 28 Feb. 2023

Down by two, with 1.4 seconds left, following a few late-game missed free throws on each side (some on purpose), Kevin Love grabbed the rebound and launched a full-court heave that bounced off the backboard as the buzzer sounded. —Chris Fedor, cleveland, 8 Nov. 2022

LeBron James threw a lob to himself off the backboard, Jayson Tatum won MVP and Damian Lillard sank eight three-pointers, including the All-Star game-winner — again. —Bill Oram, oregonlive, 20 Feb. 2023

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Word History

First Known Use

1761, in the meaning defined at sense 1

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