front bench

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

front′ bench′, [Brit.]

1. Government (in the House of Commons) either of two seats near the Speaker, on which the leaders of the major parties sit.
2. Government the leaders who occupy a front bench. Cf. back bench.

• 1890–95

front′ bench′er. 

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

front bench noun

1. the foremost bench of either the Government or Opposition in the House of Commons
2. the leadership (frontbenchers) of either group, who occupy this bench
3. the leadership of the government or opposition in various legislative assemblies