1. (noun)backup an accumulation caused by clogging or a stoppage "a traffic backup on the main street"; "he discovered a backup in the toilet"
2. (noun)stand-in, substitute, relief, reliever, backup, backup man, fill-in someone who takes the place of another (as when things get dangerous or difficult)
"the star had a stand-in for dangerous scenes"; "we need extra employees for summer fill-ins"
3. (noun)accompaniment, musical accompaniment, backup, support a musicalpart (vocal or instrumental) that supports or provides background for other musicalparts
4. (noun)backup, computer backup (computer science) a copy of a file or directory on a separatestoragedevice "he made a backup in case the original was accidentally damaged or erased"
5. (noun)backing, backup, championship, patronage the act of providing approval and support "his vigorous backing of the conservatives got him in trouble with progressives"