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.
With the addition of Saquon Barkley in free agency, the Eagles had an elite talent in the backfield. Kevin McCormick, MSNBC Newsweek, 27 June 2025 If somebody runs through a gap and makes a play in the backfield, then your drive’s over. Scott Thompson, FOXNews.com, 25 June 2025 How, exactly, is the 26-year-old still here, now the potential leading man in Denver’s backfield? Luca Evans, Denver Post, 22 June 2025 From being a constant presence in the backfield during scrimmage portions of practice to being the first to congratulate a teammate for a good defensive play, Chubb looked every bit like the most enthusiastic presence on every single work day seen by the media. C. Isaiah Smalls Ii, Miami Herald, 20 June 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 2 Jul. 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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