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
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The backstory Back in 2013, Mikael Hall fell in love with a Mallorcan manor house—previously a family home and prior to that, a girls' school. Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 20 Feb. 2026 Nazgul Just Wanted to Find His Owners The backstory is pure dog. Ryan Brennan, Miami Herald, 19 Feb. 2026 That backstory — Greta accidentally burning down a church with children inside — is genuinely horrifying. Kennedy French, Variety, 18 Feb. 2026 But behind the viral moment is a heartbreaking backstory. Jasmine Baehr, FOXNews.com, 17 Feb. 2026 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 Feb. 2026.

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