fallback

1 of 2

noun

fall·​back ˈfȯl-ˌbak How to pronounce fallback (audio)
Synonyms of fallbacknext
1
: something on which one can fall back : reserve
—often used attributively
a fallback career
a fallback position
2
: a falling back : retreat
3
: something that falls back
the fallback from an explosion

fall back

2 of 2

verb

fell back; fallen back; falling back; falls back

intransitive verb

: retreat, recede
see also:
fall back on

Synonyms of fallback

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Verb

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Examples of fallback in a Sentence

Verb resistance from native forces was greater than expected, and the invading army was forced to fall back
Recent Examples on the Web
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Noun
This pliability has made the app particularly popular for casual, real-time occasions—such as finding the ideal hostess gift for a weekend visit or selecting a thoughtful token for a friend—without resorting to generic fallback options. — Arthur Zaczkiewicz, Footwear News, 15 Oct. 2026 For some diners, eating alone is an intentional choice rather than a fallback. — Ashley Lynch, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 12 Oct. 2026
Verb
But now that the war has entered its eighth month, with no end in sight and gas prices surging again, consumers don’t have that cushion to fall back on. — Jason Ma, Fortune, 16 Oct. 2026 These decaying satellites follow a similar incident in June, where one of the first batch of Rassvet-3 satellites fell back to Earth. — Jon Martindale, PC Magazine, 13 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for fallback

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1830, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Verb

1607, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of fallback was in 1607

Rhymes for fallback

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Browse Nearby Words

fall away
fallback
fall back
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Fallback.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/fallback. Accessed 19 Oct. 2026.

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Kids Definition

fall back

verb
: retreat entry 2 sense 1
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