1
2
: something that resembles a backbone: such as
a
: a chief mountain ridge, range, or system
b
: the foundation or most substantial or sturdiest part of something
c
: the longest chain of atoms or groups of atoms in a usually long molecule (such as a polymer or protein)
d
: the primary high-speed hardware and transmission lines of a telecommunications network (such as the Internet)
3
: firm and resolute character
4
Examples of backbone in a Sentence
She is the backbone of the family.
He showed some backbone by refusing to compromise his values.
Recent Examples on the Web
Through much of the 20th century, California’s salmon fishery formed the economic backbone of coastal fishing ports, with fishers using hook and line pulling in millions of pounds in good years.
—
Alastair Bland | Calmatters, Mercury News, 16 Apr. 2025
Anger and animosity are why fans clamor for the addition of short tracks on the schedule, and the backbone to why Bristol was once one of the hottest tickets in sports with a streak of selling out 55 consecutive races.
—Jordan Bianchi, New York Times, 14 Apr. 2025
But the foundation, the backbone of the show, is really family.
—Charlotte Phillipp, People.com, 11 Apr. 2025
The backbone of global communication Despite their unassuming appearance, undersea cables form the backbone of modern communication systems.
—John Calabrese, The Conversation, 10 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for backbone
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Alastair Bland | Calmatters, Mercury News, 16 Apr. 2025
Anger and animosity are why fans clamor for the addition of short tracks on the schedule, and the backbone to why Bristol was once one of the hottest tickets in sports with a streak of selling out 55 consecutive races.
—Jordan Bianchi, New York Times, 14 Apr. 2025
But the foundation, the backbone of the show, is really family.
—Charlotte Phillipp, People.com, 11 Apr. 2025
The backbone of global communication Despite their unassuming appearance, undersea cables form the backbone of modern communication systems.
—John Calabrese, The Conversation, 10 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for backbone
Cite this Entry
“Backbone.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/backbone. Accessed 22 Apr. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
backbone
noun
back·bone
-ˈbōn 
-ˌbōn
1
: the skeleton of the trunk and tail of a vertebrate that consists of a jointed series of vertebrae enclosing and protecting the spinal cord
called also spinal column
2
: the foundation or sturdiest part of something
3
: firmness of character
a coward with no backbone
Medical Definition
backbone
noun
back·bone
-ˈbōn, -ˌbōn
1
2
: the longest chain of atoms or groups of atoms in a usually long molecule (as a polymer or protein)
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