# backbone vs backline

> English confusable word pair

## The two words

### backbone
*noun · IPA /ˈbækˌbəʊn/ · frequency rank #14,275*
The series of vertebrae, separated by disks, that encloses and protects the spinal cord, and runs down the middle of the back in vertebrate animals.

### backline
*noun · frequency rank #40,571*
Alternative form of back line.

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/vs/backbone-vs-backline