backbone

American  

[bak-bohn] / ˈbækˌboʊn /

noun

1. Anatomy. the spinal column; spine.

2. strength of character; resolution.

   Synonyms:

   fortitude, decision, firmness

3. something resembling a backbone in appearance, position, or function.

4. Bookbinding. a back or bound edge of a book; spine.

5. Nautical. a rope running along the middle of an awning, as a reinforcement and as an object to which a supporting bridle or crowfoot may be attached.

6. Naval Architecture. the central fore-and-aft assembly of the keel and keelson, giving longitudinal strength to the bottom of a vessel.

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backbone British  

/ ˈbækˌbəʊn /

noun

1. a nontechnical name for spinal column

2. something that resembles the spinal column in function, position, or appearance

3. strength of character; courage

4. the main or central mountain range of a country or region

5. nautical the main longitudinal members of a vessel, giving structural strength

6. computing (in computer networks) a large-capacity, high-speed central section by which other network segments are connected

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backbone Scientific  

/ băk′bōn′ /

1. See vertebral column

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backbone Cultural  

1. The primary line(s) that connects the slower, shorter cable portions of a communications network together. (See last mile.) In larger networks, such as the Internet, a backbone consists of high-capacity, high-speed lines that can extend over great distances.

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Other Word Forms

• backboned adjective
• backboneless adjective

Etymology

Origin of backbone

1250–1300; Middle English bacbon. See back ¹, bone ( def. )

Example Sentences

"They do a fantastic job for our health system, they are the unsung heroes, the backbone of our social care system and our health system, and they need our support."

From BBC • Mar. 31, 2026

Nvidia’s graphics processing units have been the backbone of AI development thus far, but central processing units are having a moment.

From MarketWatch • Mar. 25, 2026

The escalation came after Israel struck the backbone of Iran’s energy industry-the giant South Pars gas field that Iran shares with Qatar.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 19, 2026

These bonds create the backbone of countless substances including fuels, plastics and complex biological molecules.

From Science Daily • Mar. 14, 2026

Dimple was excellent at arguing with Mamma, but when it came to confrontations with other people, her backbone somehow became jellylike.

From "When Dimple Met Rishi" by Sandhya Menon

Related Words

• foundation
• spine