1
: a large log at the back of a hearth fire
2
: an accumulation of tasks unperformed or materials not processed
a backlog of court cases
Examples of backlog in a Sentence
Noun
We have a huge backlog of orders to be filled.
Recent Examples on the Web
Jordan Novet, CNBC, 31 Mar. 2026
San Francisco officials have been struggling to work through backlogs of proposals to install more speed bumps, raised crosswalks, and concrete islands to improve safety.
—Bruce Finley, Denver Post, 29 Mar. 2026
Dallas Morning News, 9 Mar. 2026
His court date was scheduled for 2027, a date far in the future because of the nation’s immigration courts backlog.
—Lawrence Mower, Miami Herald, 26 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for backlog
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Noun
Azure is benefiting from a massive backlog of business from OpenAI and Anthropic.
—Jordan Novet, CNBC, 31 Mar. 2026
San Francisco officials have been struggling to work through backlogs of proposals to install more speed bumps, raised crosswalks, and concrete islands to improve safety.
—Bruce Finley, Denver Post, 29 Mar. 2026
Verb
Many Transportation Security Administration officers have gone unpaid, creating massive security line backlogs at a few major airports, including in Houston.
—Dallas Morning News, 9 Mar. 2026
His court date was scheduled for 2027, a date far in the future because of the nation’s immigration courts backlog.
—Lawrence Mower, Miami Herald, 26 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for backlog
Cite this Entry
“Backlog.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/backlog. Accessed 2 Apr. 2026.
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