Phrase guide

back seat

noun · 2 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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1

noun

Meaning 1

Any of the seats in the rear of a vehicle.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Examples

  • 2011, Rebecca Black featuring Patrice Wilson, Friday Gotta catch my bus, I see my friends Kickin' in the front seat Sittin' in the back seat Gotta make my mind up Which seat can I take?

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: rearseat

Antonyms: none provided

2

noun

Meaning 2

A lesser or inferior position; a position of deliberate noninvolvement, in which decision-making or leadership is left to others.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: especially, informal

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

From back + seat.

Across languages

Translations

28 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Arabic: مَقْعَد خَلْفِيّ (maqʕad ḵalfiyy) — seat
  • Chinese Mandarin: 後座 /后座 (hòuzuò) — seat
  • Danish: bagsæde — seat
  • Dutch: achterbank — seat
  • Finnish: takapenkki — seat
  • Finnish: takaistuin — seat
  • French: siège arrière — seat
  • German: Rücksitz — seat
  • Hungarian: hátsó ülés — seat
  • Icelandic: aftursæti — seat
  • Irish: suíochán deiridh — seat
  • Japanese: 後部座席 (kōbu zaseki) — seat
  • Japanese: バックシート (bakkushīto) — seat
  • Korean: 뒷좌석 (dwitjwaseok) — seat
  • Norwegian Bokmål: baksete — seat
  • Norwegian Nynorsk: baksete — seat
  • Polish: tylne siedzenie — seat
  • Portuguese: banco traseiro — seat
  • Portuguese: banco de trás — seat
  • Portuguese: garupa — seat
  • Russian: за́днее сиде́ние (zádneje sidénije) — seat
  • Spanish: asiento trasero — seat
  • Swedish: baksäte — seat
  • Finnish: takapenkki — position
  • Icelandic: áhrifalítil staða — position
  • Icelandic: valdalítil staða — position
  • Polish: podrzędna pozycja — position
  • Spanish: segundón — position