Meaning & use
backseats
Last updated
“backseats” is a form of “backseat”. See that entry for the full set of meanings.
Meaning
nounplural
the seats in the rear part of a car or other vehicle, behind the driver
Grammar: Used as a plural noun; the singular is back seat.
Patterns
- in the backseats
- sit in the backseats
The children sat in the backseats and watched the scenery.
We put our luggage on the backseats because the trunk was full.
The backseats of the van can be folded down to make more space.
Word forms
| singular | back seat |
|---|
Common combinations
- sit in the backseats
- Two adults can comfortably sit in the backseats.
- fold down the backseats
- You can fold down the backseats to carry large items.
- the backseats of the car
- The backseats of the car were covered with dog hair.
Synonyms and how they differ
- rear seats
- More formal and often used in technical descriptions of vehicles.
Opposites
Word family
- backseat noun
- The singular form, often used in the phrase backseat driver.
Commonly confused: backseats or back seat?
backseats vs back seat
This is the standard two-word spelling; backseats is simply its plural.
Practice
The kids were told to sit in the ______ and put on their seatbelts.
Choose one answer.
Backseats is the plural noun needed here because there is more than one seat and the preposition in takes a plural noun. Backseat is singular and would need a determiner like the, and the other options are not nouns.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “backseats”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.