back seat

noun

ˈbak-ˈsēt 

variants or less commonly backseat

1

: a seat in the back (as of an automobile)

2

: a secondary or inferior position

… the issues and concerns that have sometimes been given a back seat …

—Al Gore

see also take a back seat

Examples of back seat in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Anderson, who was also in the back seat, took the weapon and started firing, Davis said. — CBS News, 21 Aug. 2026

Davis said Knight looked directly at him as the gunfire erupted, while Shakur appeared to be trying to climb into the back seat. — Nancy Dillon, Rolling Stone, 20 Aug. 2026

Wednesday’s ride went smoothly, or as smoothly as anyone’s first time sitting in the back seat of a vehicle watching a steering wheel toggle itself back and forth. — Elizabeth Hernandez, Denver Post, 20 Aug. 2026

In one case, agents in Bowie, Maryland, smashed a father’s car window, dragged him out, and pinned him to the ground — while his 6-, 7-, and 8-year-old children watched from the back seat. — Arlene Marcus, Sun Sentinel, 20 Aug. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1715, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for back seat

• amit
• athlete
• backseat
• blackfeet
• broadsheet
• browbeat
• buckwheat
• compete
• compleat
• complete
• conceit
• concrete