back channel
Americannoun
Other Word Forms
Derived 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.
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
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
Both Mr. Trump and Mr. McConnell were made aware of this back channel between the two camps.
From New York Times • Feb. 26, 2024
“Den we tak to das back channel, where de water not queek, and I t’ink we mak good tam.”
From The God of His Fathers: Tales of the Klondyke by London, Jack
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.