1. A precaution in case of an emergency
   "he acted as a backstop in case anything went wrong"
    
2. (baseball) a fence or screen (as behind home plate) to prevent the ball from travelling out of the playing field
   "The foul ball ricocheted off the backstop"
    
3. (baseball) the person who plays the position of catcher
   "The backstop blocked a wild pitch";
   - catcher

1. (baseball) act as a backstop
   "He backstopped for the team in the championship game"
    
2. Provide support or backup for; act as a last resort for
   "The federal government will backstop the emergency loan program"

Derived forms: backstopped, backstops, backstopping

Type of: fence, fencing, guard, infielder, play, precaution, safeguard

Encyclopedia: Backstop