backbench
noun
back·bench
ˈbak-ˈbench 
often attributive
: a bench in a British legislature (such as the House of Commons) occupied by rank-and-file members compare front bench
Examples of backbench in a Sentence
the Prime Minister's supporters on the backbenches
Recent Examples on the Web
The hate speech bill had faced mounting criticism even from government backbenches and some of those in opposition.
—
Michael Dorgan, Fox News, 21 Sep. 2024
That this may be the only way to avoid another chaotic, pointless speaker fight is ultimately commentary on the quality of a fraction of the GOP backbench, not of the leadership.
—The Editors, National Review, 22 Apr. 2024
For history teaches us that almost nothing would be more damaging than an out-of-nowhere primary challenge to Biden by a backbench Democrat in Congress or a hedge-fund billionaire with dreams of grandeur.
—Walter Shapiro, The New Republic, 3 Apr. 2023
Cox, a backbench state lawmaker inspired by pandemic shutdowns to run for governor, has neither shored up his own party nor assembled the cross-party coalition of Republicans, independents and conservative Democrats that gave two terms to outgoing Gov. Larry Hogan (R).
—Erin Cox, Washington Post, 1 Oct. 2022
See all Example Sentences for backbench 
Michael Dorgan, Fox News, 21 Sep. 2024
That this may be the only way to avoid another chaotic, pointless speaker fight is ultimately commentary on the quality of a fraction of the GOP backbench, not of the leadership.
—The Editors, National Review, 22 Apr. 2024
For history teaches us that almost nothing would be more damaging than an out-of-nowhere primary challenge to Biden by a backbench Democrat in Congress or a hedge-fund billionaire with dreams of grandeur.
—Walter Shapiro, The New Republic, 3 Apr. 2023
Cox, a backbench state lawmaker inspired by pandemic shutdowns to run for governor, has neither shored up his own party nor assembled the cross-party coalition of Republicans, independents and conservative Democrats that gave two terms to outgoing Gov. Larry Hogan (R).
—Erin Cox, Washington Post, 1 Oct. 2022
See all Example Sentences for backbench
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'backbench.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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Cite this Entry
“Backbench.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/backbench. Accessed 30 Oct. 2024.
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