1. a fence or screen behind home plate in baseball to stop balls
Usage: sports
2. a person or thing that provides support or security as a last resort

1. to serve as a backstop for; to provide support or security

Examples

• The ball hit the backstop and bounced back onto the field.
• The catcher retrieved the ball from near the backstop.
• The government acted as a backstop for the failing banks.
• We need a financial backstop in case the project fails.
• The insurance policy will backstop our investment.
• Federal funds backstopped the state’s emergency response.
• The backstop prevented the ball from rolling into the parking lot.