Merriam-Webster Logo
SINCE 1828
dictionary thesaurus view recents

backroom boy

noun
Save Word

Definition of backroom boy

slang chiefly British
: a person engaged in scientific especially secret research also : an expert adviser or aide : brain truster

Love words?

You must — there are over 200,000 words in our free online dictionary, but you are looking for one that’s only in the Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary.

Start your free trial today and get unlimited access to America's largest dictionary, with:

  • More than 250,000 words that aren't in our free dictionary
  • Expanded definitions, etymologies, and usage notes
  • Advanced search features
  • Ad free!

First Known Use of backroom boy

1943, in the meaning defined above

Keep scrolling for more

Learn More about backroom boy

Time Traveler for backroom boy

Time Traveler

The first known use of backroom boy was in 1943

See more words from the same year

Statistics for backroom boy

Cite this Entry

“Backroom boy.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/backroom%20boy. Accessed 12 Jul. 2020.

Comments on backroom boy

What made you want to look up backroom boy? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

Show Comments  Hide Comments 

WORD OF THE DAY

frisson

Listen to the pronunciation of frisson

See Definitions and Examples »

Get Word of the Day daily email!

Test Your Vocabulary

Words for Summer: A Quiz

  • a closeup of a sunflower
  • Which of the following words means “of or relating to summer”?
Spell It

Can you spell these 10 commonly misspelled words?

TAKE THE QUIZ
Syn City

Test Your Knowledge - and learn some interesting things along the way.

TAKE THE QUIZ
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Words at Play
Ask the Editors
Word Games