backdrop

noun

back·​drop ˈbak-ˌdräp 

1

: a painted cloth hung across the rear of a stage

2

: background

backdrop transitive verb

Synonyms of backdrop

• background

Examples of backdrop in a Sentence

The mountains provided a perfect backdrop for the wedding photos.

The novel unfolds against a backdrop of war.

The city provides the backdrop for the love story.

Recent Examples on the Web

Add to this the conflict in the Middle East driving up gas prices, and the macroeconomic backdrop to back-to-school shopping is hardly optimal. — Joe Bobowicz, Vogue, 25 Aug. 2026

The backdrop has options traders bracing for sizeable moves after the Nvidia and Jackson Hole catalysts. — Fred Imbert, CNBC, 25 Aug. 2026

This, set against a backdrop of crystalline Indian Ocean views and bright white Maldivian sand, sets the tone. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 25 Aug. 2026

The new push comes against the backdrop of drones and other technologies used in conflicts as diverse as Ukraine, the Middle East, Sudan and others. — ABC News, 25 Aug. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1866, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for backdrop

• atop
• backstop
• bebop
• blacktop
• bookshop
• clatsop
• desktop
• eavesdrop
• estop
• hardtop
• hilltop
• laptop

Kids Definition

backdrop

noun

back·​drop ˈbak-ˌdräp 

1

: a painted cloth hung across the rear of a stage

2

: background sense 1, 3a