backlog
noun
, -ˌläg\
Definition of backlog
(Entry 1 of 2)
backlog
verbDefinition of backlog (Entry 2 of 2)
Examples of backlog in a Sentence
Noun
We have a huge backlog of orders to be filled.Recent Examples on the Web: Noun
Because of the backlog in asylum courts, many of them wait for years, with permission to work. — Kevin Sieff, Washington Post, "When they filed their asylum claim, they were told to wait in Mexico. There, they say, they were kidnapped.," 10 Aug. 2019 Earlier this year the Texas Legislature passed a bill to address the rape kit backlog in the state by providing additional funding to speed up the testing process. — Paul Cobler, Dallas News, "Sen. John Cornyn visits Grapevine crisis center to rally support for bill to help eliminate rape kit backlog," 8 Aug. 2019 The backlogs in processing have particularly benefited our neighbor to the north. — Alana Semuels, Time, "Tech Companies Say it's Too Hard to Hire High-Skilled Immigrants in the U.S. — So They're Growing in Canada Instead," 25 July 2019 One of the children caught up in the backlog was the 12-year-old boy from Guatemala. — oregonlive.com, "Border Patrol agent in Texas accused of harassing mother of migrant boy in custody," 17 July 2019 Its impact may not be apparent immediately, however, because of the backlog in the asylum system. — Bob Egelko, SFChronicle.com, "Suit filed over U.S. plan to keep asylum seekers in third countries," 16 July 2019 The roll out of her plan to eliminate the backlog in rape kits continues this trend. — Li Zhou, Vox, "Thousands of rape kits are currently untested. Kamala Harris has a plan to change that.," 12 July 2019 David Vela, the National Park Service’s acting deputy director of operations, said the students are helping with a $12 billion in maintenance backlog at the service. — Christine Condon, baltimoresun.com, "Morgan State students work to restore the school’s chapel as part of historic preservation program for black students," 11 July 2019 The dealership ordered the part, but a backlog left him scheduled for Aug. 19. — Phoebe Wall Howard, Detroit Free Press, "600,000 Ford Fiesta, Focus owners await notice on extended clutch repair warranty," 26 Aug. 2019These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'backlog.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Keep scrolling for more
Keep scrolling for more
More Definitions for backlog
backlog
nounFinancial Definition of backlog
What It Is
Frequently used in manufacturing industries, backlog refers to unfinished work or to customer orders that have been received but are either incomplete or in the process of completion.
How It Works
Let's assume XYZ Company is able to manufacture 10,000 widgets per day. On Monday morning, the company receives an order for 50,000 widgets. Given the company's daily production capacity, XYZ Company will end Monday with a backlog of 40,000 widgets. If each widget sells for $1, XYZ Company would report a $40,000 backlog.
Backlogs are usually measured in dollars and generally occur when there is a shortage of labor or supplies. Building products to each customer's specifications may also lead to backlogs.
Why It Matters
Changes in a company's backlog may have profit implications. A rising backlog may indicate that a company is experiencing either increased sales or production problems; a falling backlog may indicate the company's sales are falling or that it is increasing production efficiency.
It is important to study a company's revenue recognition policies when evaluating backlog. Some companies may use the percentage-of-completion method, whereby a percentage of the anticipated revenue from the sale of the product is recognized according to the percentage of work complete on a specific product. If a company is not able to reasonably measure the costs and revenues attributable to different stages of the production process, it may use completed-contract accounting, whereby the revenue is recorded when the project is complete.
Source: Investing Answers
backlog
noun
English Language Learners Definition of backlog
See the full definition for backlog in the English Language Learners Dictionary
Keep scrolling for more