backbench
The English word “backbench” has 11 meanings listed here.
adjective
- relating to the back benches in parliament
- Pertaining to the preparation of a donor organ prior to transplantation.
- Secondary or inactive.
noun
- A bench at the back of a room or seating area.
- In a house of legislature following the model of the Westminster system (such as the UK House of Commons), any bench behind either of the front benches and occupied by members of each party group who are not party leaders, cabinet ministers, holders of offices such as the whips, etc.
- The back row of a classroom.
- The back pew of a church.
- A back bench in a courtroom.
- The back seat of an automobile, van, or bus.
- A position of secondary importance.
- A group of top-level journalists who jointly review submissions and decide on the layout and emphasis of the newspaper.
Etymology
From back + bench.
Keep exploring: in the interactive dictionary every word of a definition is a link. Open “backbench” there
More English words
About this dictionary
The English dictionary on Glottosphere has 650,529 entries with a page. Browse the English dictionary.
Definitions are from Wiktionary, extracted by Kaikki.org, and are available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 licence.