Word
backstop
Phoneticsback·stop, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈbækˌstɑp/
UK/bˈækstɒp/
Countable noun
Definition
n. a backup plan or extra support that stops things from going badly if your main plan fails. You use it when you want to feel safe.
n. a safeguard or contingency arrangement that prevents failure when a primary plan or agreement breaks down. Often used for financial guarantees, safety nets, and negotiated settlements.
Examples
“They keep extra money as a backstop for hard times.”
“The company keeps a cash reserve as a backstop if sales drop suddenly.”
“The treaty included a legal backstop to keep the border open even if later talks failed to produce agreement.”
Examples
simple
“They keep extra money as a backstop for hard times.”
contextual
“The company keeps a cash reserve as a backstop if sales drop suddenly.”
complex
“The treaty included a legal backstop to keep the border open even if later talks failed to produce agreement.”
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “backstop” in context.
Verb
01. act as backstop
“Foreign reserves act as a backstop against currency shocks.”
verb + prep + noun
02. backstop expires
“The backstop expires next year unless it is renewed.”
noun + verb
03. backstop fails
“If the backstop fails, the whole system could collapse.”
noun + verb
04. backstop holds
“As long as the backstop holds, markets remain calm.”
noun + verb
05. backstop kicks in
“If exports fall sharply, the backstop kicks in automatically.”
noun + verb + prep
06. create backstop
“Regulators created a backstop to protect depositors if banks fail.”
verb + noun
Adjective
07. emergency backstop
“The government promised an emergency backstop for struggling hospitals.”
adj + noun
Noun
08. backstop facility
“Firms can access the backstop facility in a liquidity crisis.”
noun + noun
09. backstop fund
“The eurozone set up a backstop fund to support troubled banks.”
noun + noun
10. backstop mechanism
“The new law includes a backstop mechanism to protect pensions.”
noun + noun
11. act as a final backstop
“The state will act as a final backstop if insurance markets fail.”
12. agree a backstop arrangement
“Negotiators agreed a backstop arrangement to avoid a hard border.”
Real-World Examples
“The organization needs to know that the human backstop it relies on will actually work when needed.” “For most, fear of shame is a necessary backstop to push people away from what wrongly tempts them.” “There is a backstop however – in years where earnings are higher than inflation or 2.5%, the government will guarantee that the state pension will be at least 30% of average earnings.” “Larry Ellison, who is worth an estimated $189bn , agreed to personally backstop $40.4bn in equity financing to help Paramount Skydance acquire WBD in a $110.9bn deal.” Etymology
From back + stop.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Synonyms
Word family
VERB
NOUN
ADVERB
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- C1 · Advanced
- Updated
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