fallback

American  

[fawl-bak] / ˈfɔlˌbæk /

noun

1. an act or instance of falling back.

2. something or someone to turn or return to, especially for help or as an alternative.

   His teaching experience would be a fallback if the business failed.

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adjective

1. Also fall-back of or designating something kept in reserve or as an alternative.

   The negotiators agreed on a fallback position.

Etymology

Origin of fallback

1750–60, noun, adj. use of verb phrase fall back

Example Sentences

The authors argue that scavenging was not an occasional fallback, but a core survival strategy repeated throughout human evolutionary history.

From Science Daily

Yet that’s more of a long-term story, he said, adding that the recent spike and fallback in silver prices looked more typical of short covering in futures and options markets.

From MarketWatch

The trick is building a little wiggle room in your budget for them—so that a fallback meal feels like a relief, not a splurge.

From Salon

It can also act as a fallback repair option for double-strand breaks.

From Science Daily

The commission has floated a potential fallback plan of the EU raising the money itself to lend Ukraine.

From Barron's

Related Words

• contingency