Alternative forms

• back field

Etymology

From back +‎ fieldCategory:English compound terms#BACKFIELD.

Pronunciation

• (General American) IPA^(key): /ˈbækˌfild/Category:English 2-syllable words#BACKFIELDCategory:English terms with IPA pronunciation#BACKFIELD
• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /ˈbakfiːld/Category:English 2-syllable words#BACKFIELDCategory:English terms with IPA pronunciation#BACKFIELD

• Audio (Southern England):

  (file)

  Category:English terms with audio pronunciation#BACKFIELD

Noun

backfield (plural backfields)Category:English lemmas#BACKFIELDCategory:English nouns#BACKFIELDCategory:English countable nouns#BACKFIELDCategory:English entries with incorrect language header#BACKFIELDCategory:Pages with entries#BACKFIELDCategory:Pages with 1 entry#BACKFIELD

1. (sportsCategory:en:Sports#BACKFIELD) The rear part of the field of play, particularly
   1. (baseballCategory:en:Baseball#BACKFIELD, rareCategory:English terms with rare senses#BACKFIELD) Synonym of outfield.
   2. (American footballCategory:en:Football (American)#BACKFIELD) The area behind the line of scrimmage occupied before the snap by the team on offense.
   3. (soccerCategory:en:Football (soccer)#BACKFIELD, USCategory:American English#BACKFIELD) The area behind either the offensive or defensive line.
      • 2000, Derek Smethurst, Soccer Offense for Winning, →ISBN, page 1:

        Moving the ball directly out of the backfield is the greatest form of attack there is.

        Category:English terms with quotations#BACKFIELD

      • 2012, Barbara Stewart, Helen Stoumbos, Women's Soccer: The Passionate Game, page 92:

        Cheryl Salisbury […] moved back to defense, and became a veteran force on the backfield. By 2003 she was captain of the Matildas, but still found enough time to hone her skills for the WUSA […]

        Category:English terms with quotations#BACKFIELD

      • 2017, Jake Maddox, Eric Stevens, Soccer Stand-off, page 56:

        “Like you should talk about good soccer, Ethan,” said Joshua, the team's starting keeper. “I bet every girl on the soccer team knows not to go charging on goal from the backfield, ignoring her teammates.”

        Category:English terms with quotations#BACKFIELD

2. The players occupying this area.
   • 1983 Nov. 10, Washington Post, p. E8:

     Maryland's football team practiced for the third straight day yesterday without its starting backfield.

References

• “back-, comb. form”, in OED Online ⁠, Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2020.