noun
backgammon
BAK-gam-uhn
Backgammon (noun) means a board game for two players who race fifteen pieces each around the board according to dice rolls, aiming to bear them all off first. Example: “They played backgammon on the porch every summer evening.”
noun
1
A board game for two players who race fifteen pieces each around the board according to dice rolls, aiming to bear them all off first.
"They played backgammon on the porch every summer evening."
2
A win where the loser still has a piece in the winner's home row or on the bar — the biggest possible margin of victory.
"He won by a backgammon, tripling the stakes."
How to use backgammon
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA classic dice-and-board race game, or the term for its most decisive kind of win.
Common pairings
play backgammon
a game of backgammon
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Word forms
- Plural
- backgammons
- Third person singular
- backgammons
- Past tense
- backgammoned
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
They played _____ on the porch every summer evening.
Etymology
Probably from back + an old word for "game."
Frequently asked questions
What does “backgammon” mean?
The word “backgammon” means a board game for two players who race fifteen pieces each around the board according to dice rolls, aiming to bear them all off first. In plain terms, a classic dice-and-board race game, or the term for its most decisive kind of win.
How do you pronounce “backgammon”?
“Backgammon” is pronounced BAK-gam-uhn (/ˈbæk.ɡæm.ən/ in IPA).
How do you use “backgammon” in a sentence?
Here is “backgammon” used in a sentence: “They played backgammon on the porch every summer evening.”
What part of speech is “backgammon”?
“Backgammon” is a noun.
How many meanings does “backgammon” have?
“Backgammon” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a board game for two players who race fifteen pieces each around the board according to dice rolls, aiming to bear them all off first.
