noun
a group of senior members of the political party that is out of power; these members would probably assume corresponding positions as ministers in the British Cabinet if their party was elected
• Regions: ↑United Kingdom, ↑UK, ↑U.K., ↑Britain, ↑United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, ↑Great Britain
• Hypernyms: ↑cabinet
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noun : a group of leaders of the parliamentary opposition who constitute the probable membership of the cabinet when their party is returned to power and who usually are responsible for formulating party policy and for leading the opposition in parliamentary debate in the fields of their special competence
resigned from Labour's shadow cabinet
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(in the British Parliament) a group of prominent members of the opposition who are expected to hold positions in the cabinet when their party assumes power.
[1905-10]
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shadow cabinet noun
A body of senior politicians from an opposition party, each acting as a spokeperson on a different area of policy
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Main Entry: ↑shadow
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shadow cabinet,
1. a group of influential advisers chosen by the head of a government: »
Some back-benchers are commenting bitterly on the judgment of the shadow cabinet (Sunday Times).
2. a similar group of advisers forming the governing body of a minority or opposition party: »
Labor's shadow cabinet…men who would be Cabinet ministers if their party returned to power (Time).
Useful english dictionary. 2012.