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 WebAlexandra Hutzler, ABC News, 23 Mar. 2024
The three concepts are all similar, with parking, picnic areas, walking and jogging paths, fitness facilities, playgrounds and a large, multipurpose field with a single backstop and infield.
—Phil Diehl, San Diego Union-Tribune, 27 Feb. 2024
Setting expectations is crucial in sports where there is no physical barrier (backstop, glass) to the action.
—Stephen Borelli, USA TODAY, 13 Jan. 2024
Joey Bart is still around, but as the No. 3 backstop at best without any minor-league options left, the former No. 2 overall pick seems destined to be traded by the end of camp, when he must either be added to the active roster or placed on waivers.
—Evan Webeck, The Mercury News, 14 Feb. 2024
After an ugly January, a coach calling out leadership, a team struggling for meaningful results and a relentless injury list, Tuesday acted at least as a backstop.
—Zach Osterman, The Indianapolis Star, 1 Feb. 2024
Bart’s fate was seemingly sealed when the Giants brought in Murphy as a veteran backup to Bailey, who is going to be expected to catch five days a week in his first full major-league season after introducing himself as one of the top defensive backstops in the game last year.
—Evan Webeck, The Mercury News, 14 Feb. 2024
On Friday, the Royals got a second chance to acquire the veteran backstop.
—Jaylon Thompson, Kansas City Star, 24 Feb. 2024
For instance, without the usual backstop, last summer’s historic heatwave that knocked some refineries offline unexpectedly lifted gas prices across the country.
—Matt Egan, CNN, 16 Feb. 2024
Jacob Bogage, Washington Post, 15 Dec. 2023
Reinsurance companies provide more than 80 percent of the capital that backstops insured risks.
—David J. Lynch, Washington Post, 29 Aug. 2023
At that point, a precaution set up to backstop bad customerdecisions kicked in.
—Michael Laris, Washington Post, 14 Dec. 2023
Last week, Shenzhen Metro — and, by extension, the Shenzhen government — sought to calm investors by pledging to backstop Vanke.
—Keith Bradsher, New York Times, 17 Nov. 2023
Regulators have ordered utilities to add 1,000 megawatts of electricity from clean sources that can run at all hours to backstop fluctuating wind and solar supplies.
—Brad Plumer, New York Times, 28 Aug. 2023
That’s largely seen as an attempt by OPEC members to look out for their own domestic priorities, given how heavily oil revenues backstop public budgets in those countries.
—Kate Aronoff, The New Republic, 19 Sep. 2023
Startup founders and venture capitalists weren’t the only ones cheering regulators’ decision to backstop all deposits after the swift collapse of Silicon Valley Bank.
—Hannah Miao, WSJ, 14 Mar. 2023
While Beijing did little to backstop other major home builders, including Evergrande, the now bankrupt property developer that once rivaled Country Garden for market supremacy, the government has displayed a greater willingness to support the firm.
—Claire Fu, New York Times, 5 Sep. 2023
Noun
Even then, there are still backstops in place to deter Trump's more pointed threats.
—Alexandra Hutzler, ABC News, 23 Mar. 2024
The three concepts are all similar, with parking, picnic areas, walking and jogging paths, fitness facilities, playgrounds and a large, multipurpose field with a single backstop and infield.
—Phil Diehl, San Diego Union-Tribune, 27 Feb. 2024
Setting expectations is crucial in sports where there is no physical barrier (backstop, glass) to the action.
—Stephen Borelli, USA TODAY, 13 Jan. 2024
Joey Bart is still around, but as the No. 3 backstop at best without any minor-league options left, the former No. 2 overall pick seems destined to be traded by the end of camp, when he must either be added to the active roster or placed on waivers.
—Evan Webeck, The Mercury News, 14 Feb. 2024
After an ugly January, a coach calling out leadership, a team struggling for meaningful results and a relentless injury list, Tuesday acted at least as a backstop.
—Zach Osterman, The Indianapolis Star, 1 Feb. 2024
Bart’s fate was seemingly sealed when the Giants brought in Murphy as a veteran backup to Bailey, who is going to be expected to catch five days a week in his first full major-league season after introducing himself as one of the top defensive backstops in the game last year.
—Evan Webeck, The Mercury News, 14 Feb. 2024
On Friday, the Royals got a second chance to acquire the veteran backstop.
—Jaylon Thompson, Kansas City Star, 24 Feb. 2024
For instance, without the usual backstop, last summer’s historic heatwave that knocked some refineries offline unexpectedly lifted gas prices across the country.
—Matt Egan, CNN, 16 Feb. 2024
Verb
The idea was to satisfy Republicans who were frustrated with temporary funding bills and backstop their demands for regular budgetary processes and spending cuts.
—Jacob Bogage, Washington Post, 15 Dec. 2023
Reinsurance companies provide more than 80 percent of the capital that backstops insured risks.
—David J. Lynch, Washington Post, 29 Aug. 2023
At that point, a precaution set up to backstop bad customerdecisions kicked in.
—Michael Laris, Washington Post, 14 Dec. 2023
Last week, Shenzhen Metro — and, by extension, the Shenzhen government — sought to calm investors by pledging to backstop Vanke.
—Keith Bradsher, New York Times, 17 Nov. 2023
Regulators have ordered utilities to add 1,000 megawatts of electricity from clean sources that can run at all hours to backstop fluctuating wind and solar supplies.
—Brad Plumer, New York Times, 28 Aug. 2023
That’s largely seen as an attempt by OPEC members to look out for their own domestic priorities, given how heavily oil revenues backstop public budgets in those countries.
—Kate Aronoff, The New Republic, 19 Sep. 2023
Startup founders and venture capitalists weren’t the only ones cheering regulators’ decision to backstop all deposits after the swift collapse of Silicon Valley Bank.
—Hannah Miao, WSJ, 14 Mar. 2023
While Beijing did little to backstop other major home builders, including Evergrande, the now bankrupt property developer that once rivaled Country Garden for market supremacy, the government has displayed a greater willingness to support the firm.
—Claire Fu, New York Times, 5 Sep. 2023
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'backstop.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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Cite this Entry
“Backstop.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/backstop. Accessed 16 Apr. 2024.
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Kids Definition
backstop
noun
back·stop
ˈbak-ˌstäp
1
: a screen or fence to keep a ball from leaving the field of play
2
: a baseball catcher
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