backstop
noun · verb
Simple meaning
A default arrangement that holds if all else fails.
Pronunciation
Say it like this:
bakstahpSay the bold part a little louder.
IPA pronunciation (US)
ˈbækstɑp
This word is pronounced essentially the same in American and British English, so one transcription covers both.
IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) is a standard way of writing speech sounds.
Definition
Everyday modern meanings first, grouped by part of speech.
noun
A default arrangement that holds if all else fails.
An object or a person put in the rear or in the back of something to reinforce, hold, support.
baseball
A wall or fence behind home plate.
uk
A proposed seamless border between Ireland and Northern Ireland in the event of Brexit.
verb
transitive
To bolster, support.
Act as a backstop
transitive
To serve as backstop for.
Word at a Glance
- Difficulty
- C2 · Proficient (estimated)
- Frequency
- Rare
Word Aura™
How this word commonly comes across.
Aura for this meaning
This meaning: A default arrangement that holds if all else fails.
Used this way, backstop is a reasonably familiar word with a clearly unfavourable pull. It criticises, but without shouting.
- Emotional tone
- Negative
- Formality
- Neutral
- Intensity
- Gentle
- How common
- Moderately common
- Connotation
- Serious and weighty
- Usage feel
- Critical but measured
Word Aura describes common impressions, not a measurement. Tone changes with sentence, speaker, relationship and situation.
More ways to use backstop
- “He acted as a backstop in case anything went wrong.”noun
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Common Patterns and Combinations
How this word naturally appears with others.
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Words can change meaning depending on context.
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Dictionary data from Wiktionary via the Free Dictionary API. Simple meanings, combinations and word intelligence are built from verified reference data, no AI is used to load this page.