back·stop
ˈbak-ˌstäp 
plural backstops
1
: something at the back serving as a stop: such as
a
: a screen or fence for keeping a ball from leaving the field of play
b
: a stop (such as a pawl) that prevents a backward movement (as of a wheel)
2
: a player (such as the catcher) positioned behind the batter
3
: something or someone that provides dependable support or protection against failure or loss
As the cold war heated up, Hoover became the country's backstop against subversion.—
David M. Oshinsky
David M. Oshinsky
backstopped; backstopping; backstops
2
: to serve as a backstop to
3
: to play the position of goalkeeper for
backstop a hockey team
Examples of backstop in a Sentence
Noun
The pitch got past the catcher and rolled all the way to the backstop.
kept some gold as a backstop in case the value of the local currency collapsed
Verb
the Nobel-winning geneticist was of course backstopped in his research by a team of highly talented assistants
Recent Examples on the Web
Rachel Ng, Smithsonian Magazine, 27 Mar. 2025
This $1,000 safety net bet is an opportunity to roll the dice on a game with a forgiving backstop.
—Paul Du Quenoy, MSNBC Newsweek, 26 Mar. 2025
Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 20 Mar. 2025
Some commentators don’t like the idea of potentially using taxpayer funds to backstop the price of crypto, a speculative digital asset with limited (some would say nonexistent) underlying value.
—Allison Morrow, CNN, 4 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for backstop
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Noun
Bit by bit, the field started to take shape—concrete poured, and bleachers, foul lines and a backstop erected.
—Rachel Ng, Smithsonian Magazine, 27 Mar. 2025
This $1,000 safety net bet is an opportunity to roll the dice on a game with a forgiving backstop.
—Paul Du Quenoy, MSNBC Newsweek, 26 Mar. 2025
Verb
Now, Trevino is poised to backstop a promising young Reds team that has hopes of returning to the postseason under new manager Terry Francona — and will stick around beyond this season.
—Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 20 Mar. 2025
Some commentators don’t like the idea of potentially using taxpayer funds to backstop the price of crypto, a speculative digital asset with limited (some would say nonexistent) underlying value.
—Allison Morrow, CNN, 4 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for backstop
Cite this Entry
“Backstop.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/backstop. Accessed 6 Apr. 2025.
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