backgammon

noun

back·​gam·​mon ˈbak-ˌga-mən How to pronounce backgammon (audio)
ˌbak-ˈga-
: a board game played with dice and counters in which players try to be the first to gather their pieces into one corner and then systematically remove them from the board

Examples of backgammon in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Dear Miss Manners: My sister-in-law has started bringing her backgammon game to family weekends. Jacobina Martin, Washington Post, 9 Dec. 2023 The three-in-one folding case has two magnetic boards and comes with everything needed to play chess, checkers, and backgammon on the go. Molly Allen, Southern Living, 20 Oct. 2023 Even from afar, his mind moved mine like a backgammon piece. Safiya Sinclair, The New Yorker, 31 July 2023 Evert, 18, was playing backgammon with a tournament official at a table by a wall. Sally Jenkins, Anchorage Daily News, 3 July 2023 The base version of Tabletop Simulator, available from Steam for $19.99, comes with 15 classic games, including chess, poker, dominoes and backgammon. Meilan Solly, Smithsonian Magazine, 20 Apr. 2020 And once that phrase is out there in the air, suddenly the brothers begin looking at Living+ not as a way station to the River Styx, but as a possible detour around everyone’s final destination — some kind of Black Mirror-esque way to cheat Death at a game of backgammon. Alan Sepinwall, Rolling Stone, 1 May 2023 After taking a walk in the rose garden, Grace went to set up a backgammon game. Elise Taylor, Vogue, 23 Mar. 2023 Every single day is filled with so much laughter, joy and backgammon!!!! Stephanie Kaloi, Peoplemag, 11 Apr. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'backgammon.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

perhaps from back entry 3 + Middle English gamen, game game

First Known Use

1647, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of backgammon was in 1647

Dictionary Entries Near backgammon

Cite this Entry

“Backgammon.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/backgammon. Accessed 18 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

backgammon

noun
back·​gam·​mon ˈbak-ˌgam-ən How to pronounce backgammon (audio)
ˌbak-ˈgam-
: a board game for two played with dice in which the object is to be the first to move all one's pieces around and off the board

More from Merriam-Webster on backgammon

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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