Dictionary.com

Popular Searches

 Thesaurus.com
Synonyms

backbone

American  
[bak-bohn] / ˈbækˌboʊn /

noun

  1. Anatomy. the spinal column; spine.

  2. strength of character; resolution.

    Synonyms:
    fortitude, decision, firmness

  3. something resembling a backbone in appearance, position, or function.

  4. Bookbinding. a back or bound edge of a book; spine.

  5. Nautical. a rope running along the middle of an awning, as a reinforcement and as an object to which a supporting bridle or crowfoot may be attached.

  6. Naval Architecture. the central fore-and-aft assembly of the keel and keelson, giving longitudinal strength to the bottom of a vessel.

backbone British  
/ ˈbækˌbəʊn /

noun

  1. a nontechnical name for spinal column

  2. something that resembles the spinal column in function, position, or appearance

  3. strength of character; courage

  4. the main or central mountain range of a country or region

  5. nautical the main longitudinal members of a vessel, giving structural strength

  6. computing (in computer networks) a large-capacity, high-speed central section by which other network segments are connected

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
backbone Scientific  
/ băk′bōn′ /

  1. See vertebral column

backbone Cultural  

  1. The primary line(s) that connects the slower, shorter cable portions of a communications network together. (See last mile.) In larger networks, such as the Internet, a backbone consists of high-capacity, high-speed lines that can extend over great distances.

Other Word Forms

  • backboned adjective
  • backboneless adjective

Etymology

Origin of backbone

1250–1300; Middle English bacbon. See back 1, bone ( def. )

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.

The planes will enhance India’s long-range strike capability and will likely form the backbone of the Indian air force for many years.

From The Wall Street Journal

“The mainframe serves as the backbone for the world’s largest enterprises managing the most complex and critical workloads,” Woodring wrote, ticking off banking systems, airline reservations, and transaction processing as a few examples.

From Barron's

To this they have now added a solid backbone.

From Barron's

"For smaller towns and villages, we're the backbone of the community," he said.

From BBC

The city's factories are the backbone of Shein's fast-fashion operation, allowing it to turn the latest trends into low‑cost clothes to be sold online within a matter of weeks.

From BBC

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.