backcourt

noun

back·​court ˈbak-ˈkȯrt 

1

: the area near or nearest the back boundary lines or back wall of the playing area in a net or court game

2

a

: a basketball team's defensive half of the court

b

: the positions of the guards on a basketball team

also : the guards themselves

a team with a strong backcourt

Examples of backcourt in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

While Chicago’s depth in the backcourt and on the wings gives it a solid floor, especially in a soft East, there just isn’t much upside here when Giddey is the closest thing to a star and the center position is bottom five in the league. —John Hollinger, New York Times, 8 Oct. 2025

Dennis Schroder and Zach LaVine will start in the backcourt with DeMar DeRozan at small forward, Keegan Murray at power forward and Domantas Sabonis at center. —Jason Anderson, Sacbee.com, 6 Oct. 2025

The Knicks actually have a solid bench now, especially in the backcourt. —Robert Marvi, MSNBC Newsweek, 6 Oct. 2025

The criteria: any shot taken from 36 feet or deeper, in the final three seconds of the first three quarters, on a play that started in the backcourt. —Bennett Durando, Denver Post, 1 Oct. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1884, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for backcourt

• abort
• airport
• alport
• athwart
• carport
• comport
• consort
• deport
• distort
• escort
• exhort
• extort

Kids Definition

backcourt

noun

back·​court -ˈkō(ə)rt 

-ˈkȯ(ə)rt

1

: a basketball team's defensive half of the court

2

: the positions of the guards on a basketball team

also : the guards themselves

a team with a strong backcourt