1. backshift - Noun
2. backshift - Verb
(grammar) The changing of the tense of a verb from present to past in reported speech.
(statistics) A function on a stochastic process whose value on any random variable is the preceding random variable in the process.
backshift (third-person singular simple present backshifts, present participle backshifting, simple past and past participle backshifted)
(grammar, transitive) To change the tense of a verb from present to past in reported speech.