Meaning

(publishing) A list of older books available from a publisher, as opposed to the frontlist of more recent titles..

Definitions by Sense

1. (publishing) A list of older books available from a publisher, as opposed to the frontlist of more recent titles.
2. (publishing, attributively, of books being planned) Expected to achieve years of adequate sales while on a backlist, and to be profitable on that basis, even if predicted not to sell in huge numbers when new.
3. (transitive) To hold back a student's application (to a college etc.) based on whether a preferred candidate declines their offer.
4. (transitive, publishing) To place (a book) on a backlist.

Example Sentences

The celebrity tell-all has been proposed as a frontlist title, whereas the cookbook has been proposed as a backlist title and the food history book as a midlist title.

I have not heard back from the college yet: I must have been backlisted.

Word Forms

• backlists
• backlisting
• backlisted

Synonyms for backlist

Antonyms for backlist

Related Words

When Should You Use Backlist?

Use backlist when its meaning, tone and grammar fit the full sentence. A synonym is not always a direct replacement.

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