Bancada

Bancada is a Portuguese noun with several related meanings centered on a long, horizontal surface or on a grouping of people. In everyday language, it most commonly denotes a long seat that accommodates multiple people, such as a bench in public or institutional settings.

In political contexts, bancada refers to either the seating arrangement in a legislative chamber or the group of lawmakers who vote and act together for a party or faction. Examples include bancada parlamentar (the parliamentary caucus) and specific caucuses by party, such as bancada ruralista.

Bancada also designates a work surface or counter used in workspaces, kitchens, laboratories, or retail environments. A bancada de trabalho or bancada de cozinha describes a sturdy, horizontal surface for tasks, assembly, or service, while bancada de atendimento refers to a customer-service counter.

Additionally, in建筑 or retail contexts, bancada can describe a long seating or display area, such as a bench in a venue or a display counter in a store. The plural bancadas can refer to multiple such surfaces or to multiple legislative caucuses.

The term is widely used in Portugal and Brazil. In Spanish-speaking contexts, bancadas retain similar senses related to seats, counters, or groups of legislators, reflecting a shared Latin-root concept of a linear, organized space or body.