To save this word, you'll need to log in.
\ ˈbak-ˈsēt 
\
\variants:
or less commonly backseat
Definition of back seat
1 : a seat in the back (as of an automobile)
2 : a secondary or inferior position
won't take a back seat to anyone
Examples of back seat in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web Inside was a woman, 62, bleeding from a wound on her neck sitting in the passenger seat and claiming the woman sitting in the back seat stabbed her.
—
cleveland, "Woman stabbed, man faces multiple charges and voyeur caught: Bainbridge Township police blotter," 13 July 2020 Take a cue from the 33 percent of people who believe that talking to passengers, even those seated in the back seat, poses a danger to others on the road and keep the chat light.
—
oregonlive, "What you’ll need to take a safe, relaxing road trip: Hand sanitizer to coolers," 12 July 2020 Recker was in the back seat of the Taurus behind the driver, John Hollberg, 23, of Georgia.
—
Dana Hunsinger Benbow, The Indianapolis Star, "‘Enjoying life to the fullest.’ IU cheerleader, Luke Recker’s ex-girlfriend deals with paralysis," 9 July 2020 In addition to the mics found in the front seats, two additional microphones are in the back seat so that those in the rear can control aspects of the vehicle.
—
Roberto Baldwin, Car and Driver, "2021 Mercedes-Benz S-Class Gets Updated Infotainment, 3D Display," 8 July 2020 In Mueller Lake Park on Saturday, Adamary Carillo and Maynor Ochoa, rising seniors at KIPP Austin Collegiate High School, admit that the virus may have taken a back seat in many people’s minds.
—
Henry Gass, The Christian Science Monitor, "In Sun Belt, will rising cases cause less pandemic politicking?," 29 June 2020 Rodriguez drove to his job at the James J. Peters Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center on the morning of July 26, 2019, with his twins, Luna and Phoenix Rodriguez in the back seat, according to the release.
—
Madeline Holcombe, CNN, "New York father whose one-year-old twins died after being left in hot car is sentenced to conditional discharge," 24 June 2020 Officers spotted two young children in the back seat without car seats, and the woman driver appeared intoxicated.
—
Bruce Geiselman, cleveland, "Man charged with assault, resisting arrest: Westlake Police Blotter," 4 July 2020 Police put her in the back seat of a patrol car and headed to the city detention center, about 8 miles away, to book her on outstanding warrants.
—
Cassandra Jaramillo, Dallas News, "After Police Oversight Board investigation stalls, family of Diamond Ross, who died in DPD custody, sues the city," 26 June 2020
See MoreThese example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'back seat.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Keep scrolling for more
Comments on back seat
What made you want to look up back seat? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).
Test Your Vocabulary
July 2020 Words of the Day Quiz
- Which is a synonym of mien?
Can you spell these 10 commonly misspelled words?
TAKE THE QUIZ
Test Your Knowledge - and learn some interesting things along the way.
TAKE THE QUIZLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridgedWords at Play
Ask the Editors
Word Games
Share back seat
Time Traveler for back seat
The first known use of back seat was in 1715
See more words from the same year