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backcourt

American

[bak-kawrt, -kohrt] / ˈbækˌkɔrt, -ˌkoʊrt /

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.

backcourt British

/ ˈbækˌkɔːt /

noun

tennis 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

Etymology

Origin of backcourt

First recorded in 1765–75; back ¹ + court

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.

See Examples For:

backcourt

The move paired Ball with fellow star Anthony Edwards, creating a new backcourt combination for the Western Conference franchise.

From MarketWatch ● Oct. 29, 2026

He even played important playoff minutes, helping fill in for the depleted backcourt during Doncic’s and Reaves’ injuries.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 1, 2026

The Lakers need strong defensive players around Doncic, and Austin Reaves, if the duo reunite as the team’s backcourt of the future.

From Los Angeles Times ● May 27, 2026

They also traded for Atkins from Chicago, parting with former first-round pick Rickea Jackson to ease the pressure in the backcourt.

From Los Angeles Times ● May 8, 2026

“Sure. You and I are in the backcourt together. That’s fine. I like it.”

From "The Great Santini" by Pat Conroy

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Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023