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 good news is that the tight end was showing movement in his extremities, but the medical staff immediately placed him on a backboard to be carted off the field. —Daniel R. Depetris, Newsweek, 24 Nov. 2024

Medical professionals rushed onto the field as the game was paused, and Olave was placed on a backboard and carted off the field. —Ryan Morik, Fox News, 9 Nov. 2024

Sanders was carted off the field with a backboard being used to immobilize him and was later ruled out for the rest of the game. —Tom Rogers, Newsweek, 25 Nov. 2024

His warm up shot clanked hard off the backboard and in, sparking some laughter and a quick turnaround to the back of the line. —Joe Arruda, Hartford Courant, 24 Nov. 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