backdoor

adjective

back·​door ˈbak-ˈdȯr 

1

: indirect, devious

2

: involving or being a play in basketball in which a player moves behind the defense and toward the basket to receive a quick pass

a backdoor layup

Examples of backdoor in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

That clause could act as a backdoor way to establish rent control in Chicago, a regulation state law blocks the city from establishing. — Jake Sheridan, Chicago Tribune, 29 May 2026

Early in the second period Stone snuck behind the Avalanche defense for a backdoor tap-in goal on the power play. — Mark Lazerus, New York Times, 25 May 2026

The boundary, called a backdoor cold front, could linger with Boston through Wednesday and Thursday, Dooley said, and may starkly divide temperatures felt by inland and coastal communities. — Grace Zokovitch, Boston Herald, 13 Apr. 2026

In the second period, after Foligno’s tying goal, Tarasenko scored his 23rd goal and seventh in the past 11 games on a backdoor tap-in after Ryan Hartman deflected Jared Spurgeon’s shot. — Michael Russo, New York Times, 8 Apr. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1805, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for backdoor

• abhor
• abor
• adore
• afore
• ardour
• ashore
• before
• bookstore
• candour
• centaur
• claymore
• decor