Culture & Lifestyle • Publishing

Backpages

"Backpages" is not a single standard encyclopedia topic title in the provided results.

By Ethan Anderson| Reviewed by Olivia Bennett, Standards & Fact-Checking Lead| Updated July 26, 2026|2 min read| Fact-checked

"Backpages" is an ambiguous term that can refer to the back pages of a publication, a classified advertising website called Backpage, or various titles using the phrase "Back Pages" or "My Back Pages." In British English, it often denotes the rear section of a newspaper, particularly the sports coverage. The term also appears in proper nouns unrelated to publishing layout, such as the online archive Rock's Backpages and the Bob Dylan song "My Back Pages."

Meaning and usage

"Backpages" can describe the back section of a publication, especially in British usage for newspaper sport pages. It is also used in titles and proper nouns unrelated to publishing layout.

Backpage as a website

Backpage.com was a U.S. classified advertising website founded in 2004 as a rival to Craigslist. It was shut down after federal action in 2018.

Cultural and media titles

Several works use the phrase "Back Pages" or "My Back Pages," including a 2011 America album and Bob Dylan's 1964 song "My Back Pages." These uses are distinct from the generic publishing term.

Rock's Backpages is a searchable archive of music journalism founded in 2000 by Barney Hoskyns. It is a media archive rather than a publication layout term.

Key facts

In British English, "back pages" can mean the rear section of a newspaper, often carrying sports coverage.
Backpage was a classified advertising website founded in 2004 and later shut down after a federal seizure.
Rock's Backpages is an online archive of music journalism founded in 2000.
"My Back Pages" is a Bob Dylan song from 1964 and also the title of later works.
Canadian newspapers and magazines also use back pages to refer to the final section of a publication.

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Canadian context

Canadian newspapers and magazines also use back pages to refer to the final section of a publication, and Canadian readers may encounter the term in media, music, and web archives.

Frequently asked questions

What does "backpages" mean in publishing?

It can mean the back pages of a newspaper or magazine, especially the final section of a publication.

Is Backpage the same as "backpages"?

No. Backpage was a specific classified advertising website, while "backpages" is a general term or plural form.

What is Rock's Backpages?

Rock's Backpages is an online archive of music journalism, founded in 2000 and searchable by article.

What is "My Back Pages"?

"My Back Pages" is a Bob Dylan song written in 1964 and also a title reused by later books and recordings.

Why is the term ambiguous?

Because it is used both as a common publishing phrase and as part of several proper nouns with different meanings.

References

Cambridge Dictionary — https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/back-pages
Supports: Definition of back pages as the back part of a newspaper, often for sport news.
Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Backpage
Supports: Background on Backpage.com, its founding, business model, and shutdown.
DBpedia — https://dbpedia.org/page/Backpage
Supports: Summary of Backpage.com as a classified advertising website and its relationship to Craigslist.
Wiktionary — https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/backpages
Supports: Backpages as the plural of backpage.
OneLook — https://www.onelook.com/?loc=olthes1&w=backpage
Supports: Backpage as an alternative form referring to the final page of a publication.
Weblio — https://ejje.weblio.jp/content/backpage
Supports: Back page as the final page of a publication.
Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rock's_Backpages
Supports: Description of Rock's Backpages as an online archive of music journalism.
Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/My_Back_Pages
Supports: Bob Dylan's song "My Back Pages" and later performances/recordings.