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Glite Dictionary
🤫 Private communication 🔁 Secondary data path 🗣️ Listener response
backchannel

backchannel

2 7.2
A private chat people use during a meeting to talk without others hearing
  • noun
  • /ˈbækˌtʃænəl/
translation icon : canal secundario
  • We have no way of knowing how widely TF has disseminated the backchannel emails.

Examples

  • Ailes tells TVNewser he's known Jackson for decades and has kept up a backchannel conversation for years.

    Blog text (21)

  • I'm not surprised to hear Charlie say he is hearing "more backchannel information about people airing this exact sentiment."

    Blog text (29)

  • I pulled out my iPhone and started to review the backchannel feed.

    Blog text (11)

  • By his own admission, he has all of the backchannel emails.

    Blog text (28)

  • Brent Schlenker had mentioned me during his opening comments, and people were reaching out via the backchannel.

    Blog text (11)

  • I love this point, and I've been getting more backchannel information about people airing this exact sentiment.

    Blog text (29)

  • Wife and kids settled into bed, tethered laptop out, reviewing the DevLearn backchannel and updating the resources.

    Blog text (11)

  • During the meeting, they used a backchannel to discuss sensitive topics without alerting others.

  • He sent a backchannel message to her phone while they were in the conference call.

  • The team maintained a backchannel discussion to coordinate their strategies quietly.

Synonyms

back channel
vsbackchannel
  • Literature
4 7.7

A secret way to talk privately between governments or leaders

is a private secondary means used alongside the main conversation or event

Antonyms

mainstream discussion
2.9

Public talk that most people know and accept

How Official

channel
230 3.6
backchannel
2 7.2
backdoor
12 7.0

Surface Forms

backchannel singular
backchannels plural

Morphology

backchannel = back + channel (transparent) = back + channel

The meaning 'private or secondary communication channel' is directly given by 'back' (secondary/behind) + 'channel' (communication medium).

Etymology

Backchannel comes from back ('behind' or 'secondary') and channel ('a way' to send messages, like a TV channel). So a backchannel is a behind-the-scenes or private way to talk alongside the main conversation.