backboard

noun

back·​board ˈbak-ˌbȯrd How to pronounce backboard (audio)
1
: a board placed at or serving as the back of something
especially : a rounded or rectangular board behind the basket on a basketball court which serves to keep missed shots from going out-of-bounds and from which the ball can be made to rebound into the basket
2
: a stiff board on which an injured person and especially one with neck or spinal injuries is placed and immobilized in order to prevent further injury during transport

Examples of backboard in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Sets with unbreakable backboards and breakaway rims are the best type for children because breakable boards and rigid rims can lead to the little ones hurting their fingers. — Bestreviews, Mercury News, 24 Aug. 2026 The basket has no backboard, and players are only allowed to hold the ball for three seconds at a time without moving. — Meredith Kile, PEOPLE, 17 Aug. 2026 He was eventually moved to the stretcher with the use of a backboard and taken away by ambulance, about 35 minutes after the injury. — Chris Hays, The Orlando Sentinel, 15 Aug. 2026 Decades ago, his dad procured a half-moon backboard and enlisted some uncles to help install it in the backyard. — Mike Defabo, New York Times, 27 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for backboard

Word History

First Known Use

1761, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of backboard was in 1761

Rhymes for backboard

See All Rhymes for backboard

Browse Nearby Words

backblock
backboard
back bond
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Backboard.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/backboard. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

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Kids Definition

backboard

noun
back·​board ˈbak-ˌbōrd How to pronounce backboard (audio)
-ˌbȯrd
: a board placed at the back or serving as a back
especially : a rounded or rectangular board behind the basket on a basketball court

Medical Definition

backboard

noun
back·​board -ˌbȯrd How to pronounce backboard (audio)
: a stiff board on which an injured person and especially one with neck or spinal injuries is placed and immobilized in order to prevent further injury during transport

More from Merriam-Webster on backboard

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about backboard

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