back·stop
ˈbak-ˌstäp 
plural backstops
1
: something at the back serving as a stop: such as
a
: a screen or fence for keeping a ball from leaving the field of play
b
: a stop (such as a pawl) that prevents a backward movement (as of a wheel)
2
: a player (such as the catcher) positioned behind the batter
3
: something or someone that provides dependable support or protection against failure or loss
As the cold war heated up, Hoover became the country's backstop against subversion.—
David M. Oshinsky
David M. Oshinsky
backstopped; backstopping; backstops
2
: to serve as a backstop to
3
: to play the position of goalkeeper for
backstop a hockey team
Examples of backstop in a Sentence
Noun
The pitch got past the catcher and rolled all the way to the backstop.
kept some gold as a backstop in case the value of the local currency collapsed
Verb
the Nobel-winning geneticist was of course backstopped in his research by a team of highly talented assistants
Recent Examples on the Web
Andy McCullough, New York Times, 28 Apr. 2025
The current backstops are metal and range in height from 12 to 25 feet.
—Mike Danahey, Chicago Tribune, 15 Apr. 2025
Barry R. Posen, Foreign Affairs, 21 Apr. 2025
Now, Trevino is poised to backstop a promising young Reds team that has hopes of returning to the postseason under new manager Terry Francona — and will stick around beyond this season.
—Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 20 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for backstop
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Noun
Hewitt pointed toward barren sections behind the backstop.
—Andy McCullough, New York Times, 28 Apr. 2025
The current backstops are metal and range in height from 12 to 25 feet.
—Mike Danahey, Chicago Tribune, 15 Apr. 2025
Verb
France and the United Kingdom, meanwhile, will need to think hard about how their nuclear forces can backstop the continent’s conventional forces in an independent European deterrence strategy.
—Barry R. Posen, Foreign Affairs, 21 Apr. 2025
Now, Trevino is poised to backstop a promising young Reds team that has hopes of returning to the postseason under new manager Terry Francona — and will stick around beyond this season.
—Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 20 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for backstop
Cite this Entry
“Backstop.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/backstop. Accessed 20 May. 2025.
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