backstop
Americannoun
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a wall, wire screen, or the like, serving to prevent a ball from going too far beyond the normal playing area.
-
Baseball. the catcher.
-
a person or thing that serves as a support, safeguard, or reinforcement.
There were technicians on board as backstops to the automated controls.
verb (used without object)
verb (used with object)
noun
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sport a screen or fence to prevent balls leaving the playing area
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a block or catch to prevent excessive backward movement, such as one on the sliding seat of a rowing boat
verb
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of backstop
Explanation
In baseball, a backstop is the wall or fence behind home plate that keeps the ball on the playing field. If the batter hits the ball into the backstop, it's a foul ball. When a softball player is up at bat, the backstop is behind her. Part of the backstop's purpose is to keep players and spectators from getting hurt by foul balls or bats that players toss after hitting the ball. You can also use the word backstop to describe a thing or a person that stands behind something, offering reinforcement or support. The earliest use of the word, in 1819, is from cricket.
Vocabulary lists containing backstop
Baseball in April
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Race to the Sun
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Get a Grip, Vivy Cohen!
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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:
AMD is also in talks to provide a financial backstop for Anthropic’s future data-center leases as well, according to a person with direct knowledge of the talks.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 22, 2026
At first, it was marketed as a narrow backstop to prosecute the gravest crimes.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 13, 2026
“I do think the U.S. government will backstop some of these companies in a dire situation, perhaps in exchange or equity,” Wallerstein said.
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 11, 2026
“I do think the U.S. government will backstop some of these companies in a dire situation, perhaps in exchange for equity,” Wallerstein said.
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 11, 2026
Another new ball from behind the backstop and Willis roughing it up again.
From "Lizzie Bright and the Buckminster Boy" by Gary D. Schmidt
California backstopped the federal subsidies for the lowest-income enrollees — mostly those for households earning up to 150% of the federal poverty level, or $23,940 for individuals and $49,500 for a family of four.
From Los Angeles Times ● May 28, 2026
The company said the deal would be backstopped by the Ellison family and RedBird Capital, and debt fully committed by Bank of America, Citi, and Apollo.
From Barron's ● Dec. 8, 2025
Multiple Democratic- and Republican-run states, as well as Native American tribes, declared emergencies and backstopped tens of millions of dollars for food payments, while acknowledging that that still wouldn’t suffice.
From Slate ● Nov. 6, 2025
Mass manufacturing backstopped American primacy in the 20th century; the U.S. outbuilt and outinnovated its totalitarian foes.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 17, 2025
He backstopped the Kraken’s best run of the season, the only reason they were still in playoff contention.
From Seattle Times ● Apr. 20, 2024
Warner’s board told shareholders to reject Paramount’s bid last week, citing concerns that the Ellisons weren’t fully backstopping the financing.
From Barron's ● Dec. 22, 2025
In recent calls with U.S. officials, European officials have stressed that they can only offer Ukraine clear security commitments once they know what role the U.S. would play in backstopping those plans.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Dec. 4, 2025
How the U.S. government is backstopping the tech boom.
From MarketWatch ● Nov. 14, 2025
The settlement resolved a dispute over the amount of new stock that Cineworld's lenders would receive for backstopping the exit financing.
From Reuters ● May 2, 2023
"I'll let that do most of the backstopping."
From Rival Pitchers of Oakdale by Scott, Morgan
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
