backboard

noun

back·​board ˈbak-ˌbȯrd 

1

: a board placed at or serving as the back of something

especially : a rounded or rectangular board behind the basket on a basketball court which serves to keep missed shots from going out-of-bounds and from which the ball can be made to rebound into the basket

2

: a stiff board on which an injured person and especially one with neck or spinal injuries is placed and immobilized in order to prevent further injury during transport

Examples of backboard in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The arena, which was built to resemble a net with a ball at the center, is also adorned by a smattering of public art created by local artists, like murals, sculptures and digital displays, including a ship comprising basketball hoops and backboards designed by Glenn Kaino. —Chris Gardner, The Hollywood Reporter, 16 Aug. 2024

His last bucket was a Hail Mary 3-pointer from the Seahawks’ free-throw line that banked off the backboard and through the hoop just before the buzzer sounded. —Edward Lee, Baltimore Sun, 10 Mar. 2024

The coach, who sought out to hit two in a row during ESPN’s prerecorded feature, chucked 10 shots toward the basket, six of which hit hard off the backboard and the other four hit nothing. —Joe Arruda, Hartford Courant, 24 Feb. 2024

Different countries have their own requirements, such as the use of non-conductive wooden backboards in the Netherlands. —James Morris, Forbes, 17 Aug. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1761, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

backboard

noun

back·​board ˈbak-ˌbōrd 

-ˌbȯrd

: a board placed at the back or serving as a back

especially : a rounded or rectangular board behind the basket on a basketball court

Medical Definition

backboard

noun

back·​board -ˌbȯrd 

: a stiff board on which an injured person and especially one with neck or spinal injuries is placed and immobilized in order to prevent further injury during transport