Definition of "backfill" [backfill]

• Material used to refill an excavated area. (noun)
• To refill (an excavated area) with such material. (verb-transitive)

American Heritage(R) Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright (c) 2011 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

• "Another performance enhancing "substance" has been less publicly discussed but perhaps just as important, if not more, and that is known as backfill bias."
• "Leggett says there is no cost because the agreement says that no overtime can be paid to "backfill" for employees who take the leave."
• "First Shahina would have to make her way through Mellaart’s backfill, that is, the earth that he had used to bury and protect his excavations in hopes that he would be back one day."