backfield

noun

back·​field ˈbak-ˌfēld How to pronounce backfield (audio)
: the football players whose positions are behind the line of scrimmage
also : the positions themselves

Examples of backfield in a Sentence

a tackle made in the backfield The team has a strong backfield.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
It’s been roughly 84 years of waiting for the rookie to overtake the Patriots’ backfield. Brad Evans, New York Times, 17 Oct. 2025 Shilo went undrafted in this year's NFL Draft after playing two seasons in the defensive backfield at South Carolina, Jackson State and Colorado, respectively. Chantz Martin, FOXNews.com, 15 Oct. 2025 The Eagles also have Cal-committed senior Jayden Crowder and UCLA-committed senior Logan Hirou in the defensive backfield. Steve Fryer, Oc Register, 15 Oct. 2025 However, a shorthanded backfield caused by in-game injuries to Waymond Jordan and Eli Sanders caused USC head coach Lincoln Riley to put Jackson into the game. Jordan Sigler, MSNBC Newsweek, 14 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for backfield

Word History

First Known Use

1897, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of backfield was in 1897

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Backfield.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/backfield. Accessed 20 Oct. 2025.

Kids Definition

backfield

noun
back·​field -ˌfēld How to pronounce backfield (audio)
: the football players who line up behind the line of scrimmage
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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