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Meaning & use

backlog

noun·Everyday

Last updated

UK/ˈbæklɒɡ/
US/ˈbæklɔːɡ/

Meanings

  1. nouncountable

    A pile of work or orders that should already be finished but is still waiting.

    Grammar: Takes of: a backlog of emails.

    Patterns

    • a backlog of something
    • clear the backlog

    The clinic has a backlog of appointments.

    She stayed late to clear the backlog of invoices.

    A backlog of parcels built up during the strike.

  2. nouncountabletechnical

    In software work, the ordered list of tasks a team plans to do.

    Grammar: In agile teams, the product backlog.

    Patterns

    • add something to the backlog

    The developer added the bug to the backlog.

    Our sprint pulls items from the backlog.

Word forms

pluralbacklogs

Common combinations

clear the backlog
Extra staff helped clear the backlog.
huge backlog
The court faces a huge backlog of cases.
backlog of orders
A backlog of orders delayed shipping.
build up a backlog
We built up a backlog during the holidays.
work through the backlog
It took a week to work through the backlog.

Synonyms and how they differ

pile-up
Pile-up is informal and can refer to anything accumulating, while backlog is about overdue tasks.
arrears
Arrears mostly applies to unpaid money or overdue duties, a more formal sense.
queue
A queue is an orderly line of things waiting, whereas backlog implies falling behind.

Word family

log noun
a record of events
backlogged adjective
having a backlog
backlog verb
to delay work so it piles up (rare)

Commonly confused: backlog or backup?

backlog vs backup

A backup is a spare copy or reserve, not a pile of unfinished work.

Practice

After the system crashed, the helpdesk had a ___ of unanswered tickets.

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