backbone
Americannoun
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Anatomy. the spinal column; spine.
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strength of character; resolution.
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something resembling a backbone in appearance, position, or function.
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Bookbinding. a back or bound edge of a book; spine.
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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.
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Naval Architecture. the central fore-and-aft assembly of the keel and keelson, giving longitudinal strength to the bottom of a vessel.
noun
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a nontechnical name for spinal column
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something that resembles the spinal column in function, position, or appearance
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strength of character; courage
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the main or central mountain range of a country or region
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nautical the main longitudinal members of a vessel, giving structural strength
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computing (in computer networks) a large-capacity, high-speed central section by which other network segments are connected
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
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.
However random that seems, such moments of connection are the backbone of Styles' show.
From BBC • Jun. 13, 2026
Run-A-Muck’s bigger plan is to see which stories land with readers and turn them into the backbone of other money-making projects.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 4, 2026
Fannie and Freddie buy mortgages from lenders and wrap them into bonds, forming the backbone for the U.S. housing finance system.
From Barron's • Jun. 2, 2026
My supermarket frequently runs 10-for-$10 deals on canned goods, which is essentially my signal to replenish the pantry backbone: black beans, chickpeas, navy beans, diced tomatoes.
From Salon • May 22, 2026
That Harry Potter’s got more backbone than the whole Ministry of Magic put together!’
From "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince" by J.K. Rowling
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.
