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.
The backstory 2022 saw the beginnings of the Wake hospitality group with the opening of Wake Living, an upscale apartment-style accommodation down the hill in El Poblado. Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 3 June 2026 Consumers want food with a backstory People increasingly care about where their food comes from, who produced it and how it was raised or grown. Lauren Jarvis-Gibson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 2 June 2026 The really radicalized piece here is the Jeff of late Act 2, who is now a completely sober voice of conscience, with a backstory that explains his cynicism. Chris Willman, Variety, 27 May 2026 The plan is that Lori – who turns out to have a painful backstory of her own with Julian – will finish the paintings, so that the children can sell them for millions after his death. The Week Uk, TheWeek, 21 May 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 6 Jun. 2026.

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