back door
Britishnoun
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a door at the rear or side of a building
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a means of entry to a job, position, etc, that is secret, underhand, or obtained through influence
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( as modifier )
a backdoor way of making firms pay more
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An entry at the rear of a building, as in Deliveries are supposed to be made at the back door only . [First half of 1500s]
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A clandestine, unauthorized, or illegal way of operating. For example, Salesmen are constantly trying to push their products by offering special gifts through the back door . This term alludes to the fact that the back door cannot be seen from the front. [Late 1500s]
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.
"Having them at the back door has been such a blessing for us."
From Barron's ● Aug. 26, 2026
As he fled, Franco’s daughter opened her bedroom door and caught a glimpse of a man in black clothing running out a back door.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 28, 2026
Fundamental weighting de-emphasizes high market values in favor of high accounting values, a back door to value and profitability tilts.
From MarketWatch ● Jun. 23, 2026
They escaped out a back door as the fire took hold.
From BBC ● May 13, 2026
He hadn’t seen Mimi since she’d run out through the back door.
From "A Monster of a Mystery (The Hardy Boys: Secret Files, #5)" by Franklin W. Dixon
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
