backstop

US: /ˈbækˌstɑp/ ,(bak′stop′)

Inflections of 'backstop' (v): (⇒ conjugate)

backstops

v 3rd person singular

backstopping

v pres p

backstopped

v past

backstopped

v past p

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026

back•stop /ˈbækˌstɑp/  n. [countable]

1. Sport a barrier, as a wall, that prevents a ball from going beyond the normal playing area.
2. Sport Baseball. the catcher.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

back•stop  (bak′stop′), n., v., -stopped, -stop•ping. 
n. 

1. Sport a wall, wire screen, or the like, serving to prevent a ball from going too far beyond the normal playing area.
2. Sport [Baseball.] the catcher.
3. a person or thing that serves as a support, safeguard, or reinforcement:
   There were technicians on board as backstops to the automated controls.

v.i. 

4. to act as a backstop.

v.t. 

5. to act as a backstop to:
   The government agreed to backstop companies that invested in oil exploration.

• back¹ + stop 1810–20

back′stop′per, n.