backstory

noun

back·​story ˈbak-ˌstȯr-ē How to pronounce backstory (audio)
: a story that tells what led up to the main story or plot (as of a film)

Examples of backstory in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Haltom divulged the casket’s backstory in the post, hoping its authenticity might entice a lover of all things macabre. Elizabeth Hernandez, Denver Post, 16 Oct. 2025 But Montgomery also insisted that Billy get a more complex backstory that helped explain his repugnant behavior, especially toward Max and Lucas in the second season. Eliana Dockterman, Time, 16 Oct. 2025 Festival co-founder Bill Hargreaves says short films might require a bit more from an audience than a feature-length movie, which has more time to introduce a backstory and character motivations. Sal Pizarro, Mercury News, 15 Oct. 2025 Thrift stores, online marketplaces and swap meets are just some of the ways shoppers are finding jaw-dropping bargains, nostalgia hits, and even things with a sad backstory. Rachael O'Connor, MSNBC Newsweek, 14 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for backstory

Word History

First Known Use

1982, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of backstory was in 1982

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Cite this Entry

“Backstory.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/backstory. Accessed 22 Oct. 2025.

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