Backcourt

/ˈbækˌkɔrt/ noun

Definition

In basketball, the area of the court near a team's own basket; the area from which a team starts its offensive play; also, the two guards who primarily play in this area.

Etymology

From 'back' + 'court' (playing field). This basketball term originated in the early 1900s, simply referring to the back portion of the playing court.

Kelly Says

In basketball, the backcourt is where the 'chess game' begins—point guards control the offense from here, and their decision-making in those first few seconds determines everything that happens next.

Related Words

Explore More Words

Get the Word Orb API

Complete word intelligence in one call. Free tier — 50 lookups/day.