backstory

noun

back·​story ˈbak-ˌstȯr-ē How to pronounce backstory (audio)
: a story that tells what led up to the main story or plot (as of a film)

Examples of backstory in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Wiley and Bonda laid out the backstory for me. — Steve Lopez, Los Angeles Times, 27 June 2026 The backstory and process of this new spirit require some explanation. — Jonah Flicker, Robb Report, 29 June 2026 Freddy’s pre-viral social-media history appears more or less consistent with that backstory. — Will Oremus, The Atlantic, 1 July 2026 The actress shared her backstory in a recent Capital Buzz interview with her Enola Holmes 3 costar Louis Partridge. — Emlyn Travis, Entertainment Weekly, 3 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for backstory

Word History

First Known Use

1982, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of backstory was in 1982

Rhymes for backstory

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Browse Nearby Words

backstop
backstory
back straddle vault
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Cite this Entry

“Backstory.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/backstory. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on backstory

Nglish: Translation of backstory for Spanish Speakers

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