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
Luke Miller, Better Homes & Gardens, 20 Oct. 2024
Elon Musk's super PAC is providing Republicans a critical funding backstop in key House districts, pouring millions of dollars into helping GOP candidates in races across the country.
—Andrew Solender, Axios, 8 Oct. 2024
Sumantra Maitra, Foreign Affairs, 4 Nov. 2024
At the August trade deadline, the team’s president of baseball operations, A.J. Preller, loaded up on bullpen arms to backstop the starting rotation that was built for fall, but damaged or missing over the summer.
—Dan Freedman, Forbes, 1 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for backstop 
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Noun
Anvil pruners have a straight blade that closes against a backstop, or small anvil.
—Luke Miller, Better Homes & Gardens, 20 Oct. 2024
Elon Musk's super PAC is providing Republicans a critical funding backstop in key House districts, pouring millions of dollars into helping GOP candidates in races across the country.
—Andrew Solender, Axios, 8 Oct. 2024
Verb
Under my system, the United States would still backstop the continent’s security by providing a nuclear umbrella and deploying its naval resources.
—Sumantra Maitra, Foreign Affairs, 4 Nov. 2024
At the August trade deadline, the team’s president of baseball operations, A.J. Preller, loaded up on bullpen arms to backstop the starting rotation that was built for fall, but damaged or missing over the summer.
—Dan Freedman, Forbes, 1 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for backstop
Articles Related to backstop
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Cite this Entry
“Backstop.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/backstop. Accessed 26 Nov. 2024.
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