front bench


nounBritish.
  1. (used with a singular verb) (in the House of Commons) either of two seats near the Speaker, on which the leaders of the major parties sit.

  2. (used with a singular or plural verb) the leaders who occupy a front bench.

Origin of front bench

1
First recorded in 1890–95

Other words from front bench

  • front bencher, noun

Words Nearby front bench

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use front bench in a sentence

  • The small boys in the front bench were all Balliol scholars in embryo; it would not pay them to crib.

    The Loom of Youth | Alec Waugh

British Dictionary definitions for front bench

front bench

noun
  1. British

    • the foremost bench of either the Government or Opposition in the House of Commons

    • the leadership (frontbenchers) of either group, who occupy this bench

    • (as modifier): a front-bench decision

  2. the leadership of the government or opposition in various legislative assemblies

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