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
Laurence Darmiento, Los Angeles Times, 12 June 2025
Stratton's throw sailed over the left-handed batters' box and one-hopped the backstop, well out of reach for Mets outfielder Jared Young, who was the ceremonial catcher.
—Andrew Ravens, MSNBC Newsweek, 12 June 2025
Bobby Narang, Chicago Tribune, 21 May 2025
Because every country needed dollars to settle trade and backstop their own currencies, foreign countries had to buy up US debt, which in turn meant that the US paid less to borrow money and was able to run up trade and budget deficits without suffering the usual pain.
—Bryan Walsh, Vox, 7 Dec. 2018
See All Example Sentences for backstop
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Noun
State Farm General and other licensed home insurers have been named as defendants in those lawsuits since the plan, though created by legislative statute, is run by the insurers, who share in any profits and backstop losses.
—Laurence Darmiento, Los Angeles Times, 12 June 2025
Stratton's throw sailed over the left-handed batters' box and one-hopped the backstop, well out of reach for Mets outfielder Jared Young, who was the ceremonial catcher.
—Andrew Ravens, MSNBC Newsweek, 12 June 2025
Verb
Indeed, Monroe was an All-North Suburban Conference selection last season, her first as the varsity starter, and the Wisconsin-Stout recruit has continued to backstop the Blue Devils (17-8, 9-4) with grit in her senior season.
—Bobby Narang, Chicago Tribune, 21 May 2025
Because every country needed dollars to settle trade and backstop their own currencies, foreign countries had to buy up US debt, which in turn meant that the US paid less to borrow money and was able to run up trade and budget deficits without suffering the usual pain.
—Bryan Walsh, Vox, 7 Dec. 2018
See All Example Sentences for backstop
Cite this Entry
“Backstop.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/backstop. Accessed 17 Jun. 2025.
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