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

The runway show featured fashions in backdrops featuring an Italian city square, a French estate, a wild jungle and the surface of the moon. —Alexandra Phelps, Miami Herald, 23 May 2026

The drama is set in 2022 against the backdrop of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. —Matthew Carey, Deadline, 23 May 2026

The co-op war in the heart of brownstone Brooklyn comes against a backdrop of deepening antipathy between supporters of Israel and Palestine across New York. —Dave Goldiner, New York Daily News, 23 May 2026

They’re typically set against the backdrop of the Great Depression in the United States. —Jennifer Borresen, USA Today, 23 May 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