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Glite Dictionary
backbench

backbench

1 7.3
A seat in parliament for members who are not ministers or party leaders
  • noun
  • /ˈbækˌbɛnʧ/
  • Jargon
translation icon : banco trasero
  • The backbench members of Parliament often voice their opinions during debates.

Someone on what they call the backbench.

Examples

  • I will say, back when Reagan was successfully catering to the Hispanic vote, I thought the Democrats were doomed to permanent backbench status.

    Blog text (30)

  • The Tories' backbench rebels, threatened and cajoled... had mostly given in.

    London (1994)

  • Speaker, you have always been the backbench champion.

  • You saw off this backbench rebellion... over the finance bill.

    Damage (1992)

  • You saw off this backbench rebellion... over the finance bill.

    Damage (1992)

  • House guest as a matter of fact, a very prominent backbench MP, an old friend of mine, Sir Geoff Newton.

    The Decemberists: A Practical Handbook (2006)

  • Cozen O'Connor partner Hayes Hunt and a formidable in-firm backbench give concrete criminal defense trial practice advice, share personal anecdotes from the courtroom, and offer commentary on criminal cases in the news.

    Academic text (2011)

  • Many backbench MPs felt left out of the decision-making process within their party.

  • During the meeting, the backbench members pressed the government for answers on the proposed legislation.

Surface Forms

backbench singular
backbenches plural

Morphology

backbench = back + bench (semi-transparent) = back + bench

Composed of 'back' + 'bench' which clearly refer to benches at the rear of a chamber, but the term's specific political/institutional meaning may be unfamiliar to learners.

Etymology

Backbench comes from a very simple picture: bench means a long seat and back means 'at the rear', so it named the benches at the back of a parliament. That's why a backbench MP is someone who sits behind the ministers and does not have a government job or a leading position.