backup

American  

[bak-uhp] / ˈbækˌʌp /

noun

• backups
  plural

1. a person or thing that supports or reinforces another.

2. a musician or singer or group of musicians or singers accompanying a soloist.

   a singer with a three-man backup that plays cello, bass, and guitar.

3. an overflow or accumulation due to stoppage, malfunctioning, etc..

   a sewage backup; a backup of cars at the tollbooth.

4. a person, plan, device, etc., kept in reserve to serve as a substitute, if needed.

5. Computers.

   1. a copy or duplicate version, especially of a file, program, or entire computer system, retained for use in the event that the original is in some way rendered unusable.

   2. a procedure to follow in such an event.

6. Bowling. a ball that curves in a direction corresponding to the bowling hand of the bowler.

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adjective

1. (of a person, plan, device, etc.) held in reserve as a substitute if needed.

   a backup driver; a backup generator.

2. performing a secondary or supporting function.

   A drummer and guitarist are the singer's backup musicians.

Usage

See login.

Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• backups
  plural

Etymology

Origin of backup

1775–85, noun use of verb phrase back up

Explanation

Backup is what someone gives when they help or support you. A brand new doctor might need some backup in the emergency room for the first few weeks. Use the noun backup when you talk about extra assistance or help. Police officers call for backup when they're not sure they can handle a situation on their own, and store cashiers need backup when things get busy and customers start lining up. Another kind of backup is the one you do on your computer — in this case, a backup is the process of copying your data in case you lose the original files.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

backup backups

And is there a backup if that firm is no longer around?

From MarketWatch ● Aug. 21, 2026

"Your "backup" bank does not have the functionality you state it does. I can't make bank transfers right now," said another, external.

From BBC ● Aug. 19, 2026

For his part, Ronald Khosla happened to keep up a yearly habit of storing all Canopy data in an external hard drive, because “Microsoft does not make backup easy,” he told me.

From Slate ● Aug. 18, 2026

In the space of three months, he went from a backup signal-caller to a dual-threat dynamo who led the Rebels to their first ever playoff appearance and ended Georgia’s dynasty.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 17, 2026

There are no bigger jokers in Chokecherry than Jordie, Pouncey, and me—with the girls as backup.

From "Linked" by Gordon Korman

Across volatile regions, some critical infrastructure, like desalination plants and data centers, will need to be fortified with layers of reinforced concrete, duplicated to provide backups or potentially relocated underground—at significant cost.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 4, 2026

The backups that closed the group stage at SoFi Stadium for the U.S. with a 3-2 loss to Turkey served to remind everyone how flawed this group can be.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 1, 2026

The luxury of being at Manchester City was that each of those Guardiola-era lineups came with almost an entire team of backups.

From The Wall Street Journal ● May 19, 2026

They will get a chance to develop as backups with some more Power Four experienced starters now in the fold.

From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 23, 2026

The backups need to be somewhere safe where they can’t be reached for at least thirty minutes.

From "The Adoration of Jenna Fox" by Mary E. Pearson

Related Words

• substitute