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
Sophia Barkoff, CBS News, 6 Mar. 2025
Indeed, data from JPMorgan underscores that purported disconnect: The bank’s latest report indicates that small-scale traders have continued to backstop the U.S. equity market — even as AAII’s survey flashes warning signs from this group.
—Alex Harring, CNBC, 27 Feb. 2025
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
Kellogg would not confirm that as part of a peace agreement the U.S. would backstop any European peacekeeping forces by providing security guarantees to Ukraine.
—Sophia Barkoff, CBS News, 6 Mar. 2025
Indeed, data from JPMorgan underscores that purported disconnect: The bank’s latest report indicates that small-scale traders have continued to backstop the U.S. equity market — even as AAII’s survey flashes warning signs from this group.
—Alex Harring, CNBC, 27 Feb. 2025
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 24 Mar. 2025.
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