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Backstop (Noun)

(baseball) the person who plays the position of catcher.

Nouns denoting people.

The team's backstop expertly blocked a wild pitch to prevent a runner from advancing.
As the backstop, she was responsible for handling the pitcher's curveballs and fastballs.
The veteran backstop had spent years perfecting his technique for throwing out base runners.
With the score tied in the bottom of the ninth, the backstop made a crucial tag on a would-be runner.
The rookie backstop struggled to handle the knuckleball pitcher's unpredictable deliveries.

A precaution in case of an emergency; "he acted as a backstop in case anything went wrong".

Nouns denoting acts or actions.

The emergency fund served as a backstop in case the company's investments didn't pay off.
The backup generator acted as a backstop to prevent a complete power outage during the storm.
The insurance policy was a backstop to protect the family's assets in case of a lawsuit.
The company's cash reserves were a backstop to ensure they could meet their financial obligations.
The spare tire was a backstop in case the driver got a flat on the long road trip.

(baseball) a fence or screen (as behind home plate) to prevent the ball from traveling out of the playing field.

Nouns denoting man-made objects.