front bench

IPA/ˌfrʌnt ˈbentʃ/
IPA/ˌfrʌnt ˈbentʃ/

front bench — noun

1. Inside the British Houses of Parliament, the front-most benches are set aside fo

1.名詞B2
釋義

Inside the British Houses of Parliament, the front-most benches are set aside for cabinet ministers, shadow cabinet members, and other senior party figures; the term also refers to the politicians who fill those seats.

例句

Min was appointed to the front bench after three years as a member of Parliament.

appointed to the front bench (became a senior MP)

The party's education spokesperson resigned from the front bench over a disagreement about school funding.

resigned from the front bench (left senior role)

同義詞
  • frontbencher

    a person who sits on the front bench, not the seats themselves

  • shadow cabinet

    specifically the opposition party's front bench team, not the government's ministers

  • front row

    much less formal, and can refer to seating in any context, not just Parliament

反義詞
  • back bench

    seats for ordinary MPs without leadership responsibility

用法筆記

In phrases like 'front bench role', 'front bench position', 'front bench MP', and 'front bench offer', the term functions as an attributive modifier describing a senior political responsibility within a UK party. The standalone noun ('sit on the front bench') can refer either to the physical seats or to the senior politicians who occupy them. When plural ('front benches'), it usually contrasts the government team with the opposition team.

常見錯誤

❌She was elected to the front bench.
✅She was appointed to the front bench.
💡Front bench positions are given by party leaders, not won through general elections.
❌The front bench includes all members of Parliament.
✅The front bench includes only the most senior party members.
💡Most MPs sit on the back benches, not the front bench.
❌He became a front bench.
✅He became a frontbencher / a front bench MP.
💡'Front bench' alone cannot describe a person; use 'frontbencher' or add a noun after it.