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cross-bench

British  

noun

  1. (usually plural) a seat in Parliament occupied by a neutral or independent member

"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

Other Word Forms

  • cross-bencher noun

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.

The Welsh cross-bench peer and former Paralympian has led a UK government-commissioned review looking at how airline and airport staff support disabled passengers.

From BBC • Jul. 16, 2025

“The oddity is having bishops in the lords at all,” said Peter Ricketts, a retired British diplomat who is a cross-bench member of the House of Lords, meaning that he does not represent a party.

From New York Times • May 11, 2023

The new cross-bench politicians want to make their first speeches to parliament before speaking on the climate change bill, which may delay its introduction, a Greens official said.

From Reuters • Jul. 25, 2022

“This harms equal status of each Justice,” Mr. Denniston wrote on Twitter, “gives the CJ arbitrary power, diminishes cross-bench exchanges, promotes wool-gathering by lawyers, prizes order over depth, lets technology triumph, looks amateurish.”

From New York Times • May 18, 2020

They did so, and Flosi and his men went into the hall, Asgrim sate on the cross-bench on the dais.

From The story of Burnt Njal From the Icelandic of the Njals Saga by Dasent, George Webbe