backstop

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.

Habeas was once supposed to provide a federal backstop when state courts failed.

From Slate • Apr. 10, 2026

If all goes well in the industry, private insurers might be happy to offer factories their coverage without a state backstop and developers and lenders may no longer insist upon that extra layer of protection.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 3, 2026

Coal still accounts for more than half of China’s domestic energy mix and provides a reliable domestic energy backstop, they say, adding that Beijing could ramp up domestic coal production in the coming weeks.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 24, 2026

For merger-arbitrage investors, Paramount’s all-cash bid with a ticking fee and a defined regulatory backstop materially reduced spread risk compared to a stock-heavy transaction subject to extended Justice Department review.

From Barron's • Mar. 23, 2026

Dad had enough gall to be divided into three parts, and the ability and poise to backstop the front he placed before the world.

From "Cheaper by the Dozen" by Frank B. Gilbreth Jr. and Ernestine Gilbreth Carey