1. A member of the British House of Commons who is not a party leader.
2. Someone who exaggerates their actual power, influence, or importance, usually for nefarious purposes.
2. Someone who exaggerates their actual power, influence, or importance, usually for nefarious purposes.
Vladimir Putin complained about Plushenko not winning the gold? Putin needs to start acting like the backbencher he really is.
by pyrhhonianskeptic February 21, 2010
Have you heard? All of the nations are refusing to take joe bidens calls, even Kim Jong Un refused his call! The UAE put him to voicemail! He sure is one hell of a backbencher!!
by Wise White Man March 14, 2022
In Westminster parliamentary systems, a backbencher is a member of parliament (MP) or a legislator who occupies no governmental office and is not a frontbench spokesperson in the Opposition, being instead simply a member of the "rank and file". The term dates from 1855.1 The term derives from the fact that they sit physically behind the frontbench in the House of Commons.
A backbencher may be a new parliamentary member yet to receive high office, a senior figure dropped from government, someone who for whatever reason is not chosen to sit either in the ministry or the opposition shadow ministry, or someone who prefers to be a background influence, not in the spotlight.
by VillageWalls January 14, 2021