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

Zvyagintsev intently places the intimate domestic conflict against the bleak geopolitical backdrop, a hallmark of his filmmaking for decades. — David Canfield, HollywoodReporter, 14 Sep. 2026

In the backdrop, investors are increasingly skeptical of governments’ bloated budgets and mounting deficits. — John Towfighi, CNN Money, 14 Sep. 2026

Bright, contemporary interiors provide the backdrop for handmade pasta, excellent pizzas and generous Italian classics. — Vicki Power, TheWeek, 14 Sep. 2026

Set against the backdrop of the summer holidays, Sick revolves around sixteen-year-old Maks (Kąkol) and his older sister Emma (Łubik) who are sent to the Polish countryside to care for their ailing grandmother. — Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 14 Sep. 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