backbone

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Those dense, umami-packed centers become the backbone of the dressing.

From Salon • Apr. 14, 2026

“We tend to undervalue and I would say underinvest in those unsexy but important capabilities like the oilers, like the auxiliaries, like the tenders. It’s the quiet backbone of American naval power.”

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 10, 2026

They are often dismissed as a punch line, but Roxane Gay explains why women’s book clubs are the backbone of a passionate literary culture.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 9, 2026

"They do a fantastic job for our health system, they are the unsung heroes, the backbone of our social care system and our health system, and they need our support."

From BBC • Mar. 31, 2026

The skeleton of a large junk, its ribs lying bare, its backbone running straight and true down the bottom.

From "Homesick" by Jean Fritz