backfill

American  

[bak-fil] / ˈbækˌfɪl /

noun

1. material used for refilling an excavation.

---

verb (used with object)

1. to refill (an excavation).

2. to make up for a loss or shortfall of supplies or funds.

   It is illegal to backfill the state budget with federal emergency funds.

3. to fill (a recently vacated position), often with an internal candidate or temp.

backfill British  

/ ˈbækˌfɪl /

verb

1. (tr) to refill an excavated trench, esp (in archaeology) at the end of an investigation

---

noun

1. the soil used to do this

Etymology

Origin of backfill

First recorded in 1950–55; back ² + fill

Example Sentences

Federal funds account for $2.4 billion of California’s $5.3-billion public health budget, making it difficult for Newsom and state lawmakers to backfill potential cuts.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 9, 2026

Taxpayers will inevitably have to backfill the losses.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 11, 2026

The BLS and other statistical agencies could try to backfill and make some educated guesses, but it’s no panacea.

From MarketWatch • Nov. 13, 2025

"We had a big problem last year with a collapsed drain on a street up from us and it was causing backfill issues on our estate," he said.

From BBC • May 7, 2025

"The earth that's been used to backfill the grave looks slightly different to that in the adults' graves," explained Dr Marion Shiner, an archaeologist from Cardiff University.

From BBC • Apr. 22, 2025