Definitions

1. noun

A person or thing that provides financial support or a guarantee, especially in the case of a loan or investment.

“The bank offered to be the backstop for the company’s high-risk venture.”

2. noun

A safety device or feature in a machine or structure that prevents it from moving or functioning in an uncontrolled manner.

“The backstop on the conveyor belt ensured that any items that fell off would not cause damage.”

3. verb

To provide financial support or a guarantee for something.

“The investors will backstop the project with a significant amount of funding.”

4. verb

To serve as a safety device or feature in a machine or structure.

“The engineers had to backstop the mechanism to prevent it from jamming.”

5. noun

In baseball, a fielder who stands near the outfield fence to catch fly balls and prevent them from going over the fence.

“The right fielder was the team’s best backstop, with an incredible ability to catch long balls.”

6. verb

In baseball, to catch a fly ball near the outfield fence.

“The center fielder managed to backstop the ball and save the game for his team.”