backbencher
[ bak-ben-cher, -ben- ]
/ ˈbækˈbɛn tʃər, -ˌbɛn- /
noun
any of the members of a legislature, especially of the House of Commons of Great Britain, but not including the leaders of the parties.
QUIZZES
WHO SAID IT: A QUIZ ON PRESIDENTIAL WIT AND WISDOM
Think you know your presidents? Take this quiz and see if you can match the style, wit, and ideology of these memorable lines to the right POTUS.
Question 1 of 9
“I do believe that the buck stops here, that I cannot rely upon public opinion polls to tell me what is right. I do believe that right makes might and that if I am wrong, 10 angels swearing I was right would make no difference.”
Origin of backbencher
First recorded in 1905–10; back bench + -er1
Words nearby backbencher
backband, backbar, Back Bay, backbeat, back bench, backbencher, backbend, backbite, backblocks, backboard, backboard splint
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020
British Dictionary definitions for backbencher
backbencher
/ (ˈbækˈbɛntʃə) /
noun
British, Australian and NZ a Member of Parliament who does not hold office in the government or opposition
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012