Fallback

/ˈfɔːlbæk/ noun

Definition

A backup plan or alternative option you can use if your first choice doesn't work or fails.

Etymology

Compound word from 'fall' (to drop) and 'back' (retreat). Originally military terminology for a defensive position troops retreat to; evolved to mean any reserve strategy by the 20th century.

Kelly Says

The concept of 'fallback' positions saved countless lives in warfare—generals learned that planning failures was as important as planning victories, a lesson that shaped modern project management and software design.

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