backdoor

adjective

back·​door ˈbak-ˈdȯr How to pronounce backdoor (audio)
1
2
: involving or being a play in basketball in which a player moves behind the defense and toward the basket to receive a quick pass
a backdoor layup

Examples of backdoor in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Opponents say that this is a backdoor effort to try and let wealthy coastal communities get out of having to build affordable housing. Andrew Sheeler, Sacramento Bee, 16 May 2024 Many of his comments are cut straight from the Great Replacement trope — a backdoor way to slide white Christian nationalism into a valid policy debate. Anita Chabria, Los Angeles Times, 2 May 2024 See all Example Sentences for backdoor 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'backdoor.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1805, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of backdoor was in 1805

Dictionary Entries Near backdoor

Cite this Entry

“Backdoor.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/backdoor. Accessed 29 May. 2024.

More from Merriam-Webster on backdoor

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