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
Jaylon Thompson, Kansas City Star, 21 Mar. 2025
Finally, states that have backstop coverage — for homeowners unable to purchase insurance in the private insurance market — can help pull down private insurance rates.
—Ron Lieber, New York Times, 19 Mar. 2025
Gary Phillips, New York Daily News, 12 Mar. 2025
Initially, experts from major reinsurance companies that backstop the insurance industry had predicted the potential of $3 billion to $6 billion in damages before the hurricane landed.
—Erik Sherman, Forbes, 30 Sep. 2024
See All Example Sentences for backstop
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Noun
The Royals will begin their 2025 season with Perez and Fermin as their backstop duo.
—Jaylon Thompson, Kansas City Star, 21 Mar. 2025
Finally, states that have backstop coverage — for homeowners unable to purchase insurance in the private insurance market — can help pull down private insurance rates.
—Ron Lieber, New York Times, 19 Mar. 2025
Verb
Longtime Pirates backstop Jason Kendall did it the most — 463 times — while Yankees bench coach Brad Ausmus tried a handful of times during his 18-year career.
—Gary Phillips, New York Daily News, 12 Mar. 2025
Initially, experts from major reinsurance companies that backstop the insurance industry had predicted the potential of $3 billion to $6 billion in damages before the hurricane landed.
—Erik Sherman, Forbes, 30 Sep. 2024
See All Example Sentences for backstop
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Cite this Entry
“Backstop.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/backstop. Accessed 25 Mar. 2025.
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