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.
The movie fills in the backstory of this slow-motion trauma in a way that feels wrenchingly lifelike. — Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 5 Sep. 2026 The backstory In the early ’90s, the area now known as Ballantyne was nothing but open land, much of it owned by the Harris family. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 4 Sep. 2026 They get asked about it a lot—and Molly Fischer’s Profile of Garten gives the full backstory. — Ian Crouch, New Yorker, 1 Sep. 2026 The current occupant of eight years, actor Jordan Firstman, tells us the backstory. — Joshua Rothkopf, Los Angeles Times, 31 Aug. 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 Sep. 2026.

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