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

One turnaround midrange jumper from Howard caught nothing but backboard and was borderline inexplicable. —Brian Hamilton, New York Times, 5 June 2026

Twice in the first half, a shot ricocheted off the backboard before bouncing between the legs of a Sky defender and into the hands of the Tempo. —Julia Poe, Chicago Tribune, 28 May 2026

And after James Harden put the Cavaliers up 101-99, Brunson made a floater off the backboard to tie the score with 19.3 seconds remaining. —Tim Casey, Forbes.com, 20 May 2026

Stewart got a good contest on Bridget Carleton’s initial go-ahead attempt, and the shot bounced off the backboard. —Fiifi Frimpong, New York Daily News, 13 May 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