Dictionary.com
Thesaurus.com

back channel

American  
[bak chan-l] / ˈbæk ˌtʃæn l /
Or backchannel

noun

  1. a secret, unofficial, or informal channel of communication as used in politics or diplomacy.

    sensitive information passed on through a back channel.


Other Word Forms

Etymology

Origin of back channel

First recorded in 1965–70

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

Muscat served as the back channel for talks between the United States and Iran in the lead-up to the 2015 nuclear deal and mediated several rounds of talks during Trump's second term.

From Barron's Jun. 18, 2026

The message went via a Pakistani facilitated back channel, Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar has said.

From The Wall Street Journal Mar. 29, 2026

According to the Guardian, her conversations with the Trump administration took place through a back channel in Qatar over the course of months.

From Salon Feb. 5, 2026

These talks went on for a month, completely in a back channel.

From Slate Nov. 24, 2025

Occasionally the racket from the back channel could be heard above the tumult. 

From The God of His Fathers: Tales of the Klondyke by London, Jack

Vocabulary.com logo
by dictionary.com

Dictionary.com's Learning Companion

Go beyond just looking up words.
Remember them forever with VocabTrainer.

Start training