backbone
noun
the spinal column; spine.
backbones
-
pluralof backbone.plural
The grammatical form denoting more than one person, place, thing, or idea.
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
For decades, palaeontologists believed that the largest ocean predators were vertebrates with backbones such as fish and reptiles while invertebrates like octopuses and squid played supporting roles.
From BBC ● Apr. 23, 2026
“If you look at the collection of companies that ultimately formed Lumen, the underlying technologies and backbones were never integrated,” he said.
From MarketWatch ● Mar. 16, 2026
In 1981, researchers uncovered a set of ancient snake backbones at Hordle Cliff on England's south coast.
From Science Daily ● Dec. 31, 2025
Animals without a backbones evolved first, around 700 million years ago.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 21, 2025
Sure, almost any old union would boost wages and straighten out some backbones here, but I know that even the most energetic and democratic unions bear careful watching by their members.
From "Nickel and Dimed: On (Not) Getting By in America" by Barbara Ehrenreich
