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

He is accused of being in the Cadillac that pulled up alongside Shakur’s car and handing the gun to two men in the back seat, one of whom was his nephew, who fired the fatal shots. — Richard Winton, Los Angeles Times, 26 Aug. 2026

Three men dressed in dark clothing emerged from a silver sedan parked near his SUV, pulled him from the driver’s seat and forced him into the back seat, according to the original police investigation. — Antonio María Delgado, Miami Herald, 25 Aug. 2026

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

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