Definitions

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

  • noun A publisher's list of older titles kept in print.
  • transitive verb To place (a title) on a backlist.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • verb transitive To hold back a student's application (to a college etc.) based on whether a preferred candidate declines their offer.
  • verb transitive, publishing To place (a book) on a backlist.
  • noun publishing A list of older books available from a publisher, as opposed to the frontlist of more recent titles.

Etymologies

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

back +‎ list

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Examples

  • New fans hooked by this one will be happy to know that his backlist is even richer.

    The Scarecrow by Michael Connelly: Book summary 2010

  • The backlist is likely to have a resurgence of popularity in the light of Sue Grafton's recent, deserved winning of the 2008 CWA Cartier Diamond Dagger.

    Sunday salon: book buying Maxine 2008

  • The backlist is likely to have a resurgence of popularity in the light of Sue Grafton's recent, deserved winning of the 2008 CWA Cartier Diamond Dagger.

    Sunday salon: book buying Maxine 2008

  • It's great that my backlist is still available, and I'm glad it still perks along, but the Spanish edition of TWO BOYS IN LOVE came out in 2001, so it's been 7 years since I had a book of adult fiction out here.

    Breakfast in Bed desayunoencama 2008

  • The backlist is likely to have a resurgence of popularity in the light of Sue Grafton's recent, deserved winning of the 2008 CWA Cartier Diamond Dagger.

    February 2008 Maxine 2008

  • At the same time, I learned that my publisher was paying a large sum for the 1,500-title backlist of a bankrupt publishing company.

    Cleveland Scene 2009

  • At the same time, I learned that my publisher was paying a large sum for the 1,500-title backlist of a bankrupt publishing company.

    Cleveland Scene 2009

  • At the same time, I learned that my publisher was paying a large sum for the 1,500-title backlist of a bankrupt publishing company.

    Cleveland Scene 2009

  • At the same time, I learned that my publisher was paying a large sum for the 1,500-title backlist of a bankrupt publishing company.

    Cleveland Scene 2009

  • (See my husband Dean Wesley Smith’s post on The Magic Bakery to understand how backlist translates into money for writers.)

    Kristine Kathryn Rusch » 2010 » May » 20 2010

Comments

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  • In bookselling, the list of previously released books that are the proven favorites and strong sellers, ordered regularly and kept in stock. See frontlist and midlist.

    October 23, 2007