back channel

noun

: a secret, unofficial, or irregular means of communication
back-channel adjective

Examples of back channel in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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The back channel helped surface cybersecurity issues that otherwise might never have been known to the government, people who have worked with and for FedRAMP told ProPublica. Renee Dudley, ProPublica, 18 Mar. 2026 Maybe assets are being mobilized through back channels. Brady Knox, The Washington Examiner, 14 Mar. 2026 Even Oman, long Tehran’s back channel to the West, was struck. Mohammed Sergie, semafor.com, 6 Mar. 2026 Behind the scenes, their panic and confusion are revealed in the many back channels companies are building to the White House. The Week Us, TheWeek, 28 Jan. 2026 See All Example Sentences for back channel

Word History

First Known Use

1975, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of back channel was in 1975

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Cite this Entry

“Back channel.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/back%20channel. Accessed 3 Apr. 2026.

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