backstop
noun
back·stop
| \ ˈbak-ˌstäp
\
\
plural backstops
Definition of backstop
(Entry 1 of 2)
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
backstop
verb
backstopped;
backstopping;
backstops
Definition of backstop (Entry 2 of 2)
2
: to serve as a backstop to
3
: to play the position of goalkeeper for
backstop a hockey team
Keep scrolling for more
Synonyms & Antonyms for backstop
Synonyms: Verb
abet, aid, assist, back, help, prop (up), support
Antonyms: Verb
Visit the Thesaurus for More
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 collapsedVerb
the Nobel-winning geneticist was of course backstopped in his research by a team of highly talented assistants
Recent Examples on the Web: Noun
Jerod Mayo is a capable apprenticing coordinator, and any bumps can be smoothed out with Bill Belichick there as a backstop. — Albert Breer, SI.com, "In Washington and Miami, Who Will Be the Starting Quarterbacks?," 15 Aug. 2019 Through what is known as a backstop commitment, other investors would be allowed to buy new shares in the company and the funds would contribute the rest. — J.d. Morris, SFChronicle.com, "PG&E hedge fund owners propose $15 billion bankruptcy investment," 8 Aug. 2019 Without FedEx as a backstop, the reliability of Amazon’s home-grown logistics operations will be put to a greater test. — Los Angeles Times, "Column: FedEx is freezing out Amazon. Let the delivery wars begin," 7 Aug. 2019 Having Locast as a backstop could help them in their fights with the broadcasters. — Tali Arbel, Houston Chronicle, "Networks sue Locast, a service that streams TV for free," 31 July 2019 Having Locast as a backstop could help them in their fights with the broadcasters. — Tali Arbel, USA TODAY, "TV network titans sue Locast, a service that streams for free," 31 July 2019 Having Locast as a backstop could help them in their fights with the broadcasters. — Tali Arbel, Fortune, "ABC, CBS, NBC, and Fox Are Suing a Nonprofit, Saying the Free Streaming Service Works for Dish and AT&T," 31 July 2019 Even the 2014 offense, centered around Tevin Coleman’s track-star explosiveness, still had D’Angelo Roberts (493 yards, six touchdowns) as a backstop. — Zach Osterman, Indianapolis Star, "IU football's QB competition will lead the conversation, but better depth at RB will lead the way," 24 July 2019 If the economy and home prices take a turn for the worse, FHA’s 2.8% capital cushion might not cover losses and taxpayers could wind up as the backstop. — The Editorial Board, WSJ, "An Obama Housing Bust," 23 June 2019Recent Examples on the Web: Verb
California could soon make other moves to backstop the Trump administration’s weakening of environmental laws. — Los Angeles Times, "This rat is foiling developers’ plans to capitalize on a weaker Endangered Species Act," 22 Aug. 2019 In spite of extreme efforts by governments to backstop banks and restore financial markets, the recession created double digit unemployment. — Bill George, Fortune, "Why the Era of Free Trade May Be Coming to an End," 25 June 2019 Sisco once was regarded as Baltimore’s catcher of the future, but that title now belongs to Adley Rutschman, the Oregon State backstop the Orioles took with the first overall pick in the Major League Baseball draft. — Nathan Ruiz, baltimoresun.com, "On eve of demotion anniversary, Chance Sisco feeling comfortable with Orioles," 16 June 2019 The policy would backstop other state measures forcing electric utilities to decarbonize, while requiring industrial companies to adopt the most efficient technologies to reduce their emissions, or pay for them. — oregonlive.com, "Oregon’s massive cap-and-trade bill inches forward," 6 June 2019 Nuclear would have to be replaced with natural gas plants necessary to backstop intermittent wind and solar. — The Editorial Board, WSJ, "Tom Steyer’s Energy Orders," 19 Oct. 2018 Edwards tied for the team lead with four picks as a junior and will be called upon again to be a primary playmaker for a defense that has to replace seven starters yet is still being relied upon to backstop the Badgers’ playoff hopes. — ES 94. — Chris Johnson And Eric Single, SI.com, "Top 100 College Football Players of 2018: Nos. 100–51," 18 June 2018 Boston Bruins Does Frederik Andersen have enough gas in the tank to backstop a two-month playoff run? — Si.com Staff, SI.com, "Why Each NHL Team Won't Win the Stanley Cup," 10 Apr. 2018 But the Trump team is invoking its aggressive constitutional theory to backstop its other arguments. — Charlie Savage, New York Times, "Trump and His Lawyers Embrace a Vision of Vast Executive Power," 4 June 2018These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'backstop.' 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 backstop
backstop
noun
English Language Learners Definition of backstop
: a fence or screen that is placed behind the catcher to prevent the ball from rolling away
: something that is kept so that it can be used if it is needed
See the full definition for backstop in the English Language Learners Dictionary
backstop
noun
back·stop
| \ ˈbak-ˌstäp
\
\
Kids Definition of backstop
: a fence behind the catcher to keep a baseball from rolling away