backboard

noun

back·​board ˈbak-ˌbȯrd How to pronounce backboard (audio)
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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
There was also the Wake Forest possession in this stretch where Lubin pinned a layup to the backboard — the play Forbes considered the turning point. — Alex Zietlow, Charlotte Observer, 14 Mar. 2025 The shooters will be 15 feet away — the length from the backboard to the free-throw line on a basketball court. — CBS News, 7 Mar. 2025 Listen to this article When Purdue guard Sophie Swanson’s 3-point attempt bounced around the rim, up to the backboard and out, Illinois forward Kendall Bostic grabbed the basketball and held it for just a few beats longer than usual. — Colleen Kane, Chicago Tribune, 5 Mar. 2025 When UConn hosted Creighton – which is now in what seems to be a two-horse race with St. John’s for the Big East regular season title – Hurley was frustrated with his team’s defense and its tenacity on the backboards. — Joe Arruda, Hartford Courant, 10 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for backboard

Word History

First Known Use

1761, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of backboard was in 1761

Rhymes for backboard

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Browse Nearby Words

backblock
backboard
back bond
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Cite this Entry

“Backboard.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/backboard. Accessed 1 Apr. 2025.

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Kids Definition

backboard

noun
back·​board ˈbak-ˌbōrd How to pronounce backboard (audio)
-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 How to pronounce backboard (audio)
: 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

More from Merriam-Webster on backboard

Nglish: Translation of backboard for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about backboard

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