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back channel

American

[bak chan-l] / ˈbæk ˌtʃæn l /

Or backchannel

noun

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

back-channel adjective
back-channeling noun

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.

They say it would prefer to play the role of back channel facilitator, which Islamabad held in talks with the Taliban over the U.S. military’s withdrawal from Afghanistan.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 29, 2026

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

From Slate • Nov. 24, 2025

In that email, Costello told Cohen he spoke with Giuliani, who “said thank you for opening this back channel of communication and asked me to keep in touch.”

From Salon • May 21, 2024

He explained this was not to undermine the British negotiations with the EU, and so he could not be seen a "back channel".

From BBC • Dec. 14, 2023

At 2.35 p.m. camped on a back channel of the river, as the principal channel was difficult of access from the steep bank and dense growth of reeds.

From Journals of Australian Explorations by Gregory, Augustus Charles

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023