backcourt

[ bak-kawrt, -kohrt ]

/ ˈbækˌkɔrt, -ˌkoʊrt /

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noun

Basketball. the half of a court in which the basket being defended is located.

Tennis. the part of a tennis court between the base line and the line, parallel to the net, that marks the in-bounds limit of a service.Compare forecourt (def. 2).

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Origin of backcourt

First recorded in 1765–75; back¹ + court

Words nearby backcourt

back-check, back clipping, backcloth, backcomb, back country, backcourt, backcourtman, backcross, backdate, back dive, backdoor

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2022

How to use backcourt in a sentence

Those sweeping, abrupt changes left Harden, 31, to adjust to first-time head coach Stephen Silas, first-time general manager Rafael Stone and a new backcourt partner in John Wall.
James Harden deal shows Nets are all in, both for a title and as a personality experiment|Ben Golliver|January 14, 2021|Washington Post
Those sweeping, abrupt changes left Harden, 31, to adjust to first-time coach Stephen Silas, first-time general manager Rafael Stone and a new backcourt partner in John Wall.
With the Rockets floundering out of the gate, James Harden says team ‘can’t be fixed’|Ben Golliver|January 13, 2021|Washington Post
Even with Beal back, Washington is still missing half of its backcourt duo.
Wizards’ Thomas Bryant expected to miss rest of season with torn ACL|Ava Wallace|January 10, 2021|Washington Post
Westbrook and guard Bradley Beal, who scored more than 30 points a game last season, should give Washington an outstanding backcourt.
Wall-Westbrook trade is a big deal, but did the Wizards get a good deal?|Fred Bowen|December 9, 2020|Washington Post

Washington will hope that Westbrook and Beal form a dynamic backcourt duo that can lead a playoff push after two lottery trips in Wall’s absence.
Wizards trade point guard John Wall to Rockets for Russell Westbrook|Ben Golliver, Ava Wallace|December 3, 2020|Washington Post
The hardest working man in the center business is all-world in both the backcourt and background.
The Chicago Bulls’ Joakim Noah Sounds Off on Weed, the Weather, and Winning|Bill Schulz|October 19, 2014|DAILY BEAST

British Dictionary definitions for backcourt

backcourt

/ (ˈbækˌkɔːt) /

noun

tennis, mainly US the part of the court between the service line and the baseline

(in various court games) the area nearest the back boundary line

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012