backstop

/ˈbæk.stɒp/

//ˈbæk.stɒp// noun

By · According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA) ·

"backstop" is a 8-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.

The verdict

“backstop” has 13 generated spelling variants in the English index at frequency #46,921. The variants make it a useful spelling check.

#46,921
frequency rank, English
31,241
“B” headwords
13
tracked misspellings
2
confusable pairs

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - An object or a person put in the rear or in the back of something to reinforce, hold, support.

Visual similarity to commonly confused words

How many letter changes separate each confused pair (Levenshtein distance, normalized).

backstop vs backstory
78% similar
backstop vs backdrop
75% similar

Source: PlainSpell confusable corpus (Wiktionary, CC BY-SA).

Key facts for backstop
PropertyValue
Headwordbackstop
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechNoun
IPA/ˈbæk.stɒp/
Letters8
Frequency rank#46,921
Misspellings tracked13
Confusable pairs2
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “backstop” sits in English frequency

Every-word frequency runs from the handful of words we use constantly (left) to the long tail used once in a blue moon (right). backstop lands here:

#1#100#1K#10K#100K
← used constantlyrarely used →

Scale is logarithmic (each tick is 10× rarer). Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list.

A misspelling magnet

The generator records 13 spelling variants around backstop (IPA /ˈbæk.stɒp/), anoun. Corpus frequency is #46,921 among 31,241 “B” headwords. Wiktionary lists 8 senses, so context still picks the gloss.

Our generated misspelling index lists 13 likely wrong-spelling variants for backstop, with forms such as "abckstop", "bacckstop", and "backkstop". Each of these forms differs from the correct spelling by one small edit: a doubled letter, a dropped silent letter, or a substituted vowel. It also participates in 2 confusable-pair relationships, "backstory", "backdrop", where similar look or sound leads writers to substitute one word for another in context.

Etymologically, the entry records: From back + stop. The correct English form is backstop, spelled B-A-C-K-S-T-O-P.

Definition

  1. 1
    An object or a person put in the rear or in the back of something to reinforce, hold, support.
  2. 2
    A default arrangement that holds if all else fails.
  3. 3
    A wall or fence behind home plate.
  4. 4
    A catcher; the position of catcher.
  5. 5
    The player who stands immediately behind the striking base.
  6. 6
    The longstop.
  7. 7
    The wicket-keeper.
  8. 8
    Something serving to bolster or support a cover story etc.

Etymology

From back + stop.

This word in other languages

Rückhalt(Deutsch)respaldo(Português)

Common misspellings

Also misspelled as:

  • abckstop
  • bacckstop
  • backkstop
  • backsotp
  • backsstop
  • backstopp
  • backstpo
  • backsttop
  • backtsop
  • bacsktop
  • bakcstop
  • bbackstop
  • bcakstop

Misspelling Pattern Breakdown

How far each generated variant is from the correct spelling of backstop - counted as single-character edits (an insertion, a deletion, or a substituted letter). The larger the bar, the easier the typo is to spot; one-edit slips are the ones that sneak past readers.

abckstop2bacckstop1backkstop1backsotp2backsstop1backstopp1backstpo2backsttop1
Edit distance from "backstop"

Definitions, pronunciation, and etymology for this entry are drawn from Wiktionary via the kaikki.org structured extract (CC BY-SA); frequency ordering uses the FrequencyWords open word-frequency list (2018 English corpus, MIT). See the methodology for how each field is sourced and updated.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you spell "backstop"?
"backstop" is spelled B-A-C-K-S-T-O-P. The IPA pronunciation is /ˈbæk.stɒp/.
What does "backstop" mean?
As a noun, "backstop" means: An object or a person put in the rear or in the back of something to reinforce, hold, support.
What words are commonly confused with "backstop"?
"backstop" is commonly confused with "backstory", "backdrop". These words look or sound similar but have different meanings. PlainSpell provides detailed comparisons for each pair.
How do you pronounce "backstop"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "backstop" is /ˈbæk.stɒp/. Click the speaker icon on the pronunciation badge above to hear it spoken aloud where audio is available.
What is the origin of the word "backstop"?
From back + stop. See the full etymology section above for more details.
Is PlainSpell free to use?
Yes, PlainSpell is a completely free word reference. You can look up definitions, pronunciations, confusable pairs, homophones, and spelling corrections across 5 languages without any sign-up or subscription.

Using “backstop”

The practical upshot for anyone who landed here from a spell-check.

  • The one correct English spelling is B-A-C-K-S-T-O-P - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
  • Say it as /ˈbæk.stɒp/ (IPA); tap the speaker on the pronunciation badge to hear it where audio exists.
  • Don't mix it up with “backstory” - see the side-by-side comparison. backstop vs backstory
  • Browse more English words and confusable pairs in the same reference. English words

Same frequency band

Data Source

Wiktionary (via kaikki.org), licensed under CC BY-SA & GFDL. Word ordering uses an open word-frequency list; misspelling variants are generated by edit-distance from the correct headword.

Source: Wiktionary (via kaikki.org) Structured Wiktionary extract

Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list FrequencyWords open word-frequency list