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

This cool pearl blonde glimmers against a buttery backdrop for a sparkling champagne effect. —Kaitlyn Yarborough, Southern Living, 13 June 2026

Rather than treating time as an independent backdrop to reality, the researchers linked its passage to changes in entropy, or the way particles spread through the system. —Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 13 June 2026

World Cup 2026 Wary fans and travelers find World Cup joy amid a backdrop of travel bans, ICE fears and political turmoil. —Los Angeles Times, 13 June 2026

The main screen onstage also rotated through his music videos and provided colorful backdrops to go with the themes of his songs. —Pj Green, Kansas City Star, 13 June 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