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

Ferrell said golf proved to be an ideal backdrop for comedy because of the challenges professional golfers face. — Eva Andersen, CBS News, 14 July 2026

Plus, the stock market had a big rebound from its Iran war lows, while oil prices and bonds whipsawed — an ideal backdrop for Goldman's trading desks, which thrive on volatility. — Kevin Stankiewicz, CNBC, 14 July 2026

Social media has driven interest in these DIY events as artists playing ambient music against a backdrop of verdant green have gone viral on TikTok. — Jireh Deng, Los Angeles Times, 13 July 2026

Against that backdrop, here’s how the world’s largest navies stack up by raw fleet size, ranked by total submarine count rather than propulsion type, age, or combat capability. — Atharva Gosavi, Interesting Engineering, 11 July 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