1
: a large log at the back of a hearth fire
2
: an accumulation of tasks unperformed or materials not processed
a backlog of court cases
Examples of backlog in a Sentence
Noun
We have a huge backlog of orders to be filled.
Recent Examples on the Web
Lisa Respers France, CNN, 14 Aug. 2024
Applications for the state’s Firearm Owner’s Identification, also known as FOID cards, rose 56 percent between 2019 and 2020, resulting in a significant backlog in the approval process.
—Marin Cogan, Vox, 5 Aug. 2024
Michelle Singletary, Washington Post, 12 Jan. 2024
Related:Infractions backlog likely to push Louisville basketball's case into a sixth year NCAA's Complex Case Unit's allegations against Louisville men's basketball: 1.
—Tim Sullivan, The Courier-Journal, 28 Mar. 2022
See all Example Sentences for backlog 
Noun
Part of the episode is about Michigan prosecutor Kym Worthy, who had a backlog of untested rape kits and needed funding to move forward with the tests if there was any hope of cracking the cases.
—Lisa Respers France, CNN, 14 Aug. 2024
Applications for the state’s Firearm Owner’s Identification, also known as FOID cards, rose 56 percent between 2019 and 2020, resulting in a significant backlog in the approval process.
—Marin Cogan, Vox, 5 Aug. 2024
Verb
For the 2024 tax season, Collins urged the IRS to make clearing up its identity theft backlog a higher priority.
—Michelle Singletary, Washington Post, 12 Jan. 2024
Related:Infractions backlog likely to push Louisville basketball's case into a sixth year NCAA's Complex Case Unit's allegations against Louisville men's basketball: 1.
—Tim Sullivan, The Courier-Journal, 28 Mar. 2022
See all Example Sentences for backlog
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'backlog.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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Cite this Entry
“Backlog.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/backlog. Accessed 22 Aug. 2024.
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