backstory

American  

[bak-stawr-ee, ‑-stohr-ee] / ˈbækˌstɔr i, ‑ˌstoʊr i /

Or back story

noun

• backstories
  plural

1. a narrative providing a history or background context, especially for a character or situation in a literary work, film, or dramatic series.

2. prequel.

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• backstories
  plural

Etymology

Origin of backstory

1980–85; back ¹ ( def. ) + story ¹ ( def. )

Explanation

A backstory is a specific history that led up to the current situation. If your parents come home to find popcorn all over the house and the dog wearing a tutu, they'll probably want to know the backstory. Past events and circumstances that contribute to whatever's happening now can be called the backstory, in real life and also in fiction. Sometimes the backstory is spelled out for you, like a book character's lonely childhood that helps explain their difficulty connecting with people as an adult. Film actors sometimes invent a backstory for their roles, to help them understand why they behave the way they do. Backstory is a shortened version of "background story."

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

backstory backstories

Look forward to a delightful movie with a wild backstory: Its corporate ownership tried to bury Coyote vs.

From Slate ● Aug. 27, 2026

But the backstory is important: Earlier this month, the administration decided not to renew the U.S.–Mexico–Canada Agreement.

From Slate ● Jul. 21, 2026

Van der Velden and other actors help develop the character’s backstory, voice and emotional life and, in some cases, contribute performance and motion-capture work.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 13, 2026

But there is a tragic, non-Wilder backstory, and it will be revealed in time.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 9, 2026

She couldn’t believe her luck and assumed the worst for their backstory.

From "The Marrow Thieves" by Cherie Dimaline

Lee, the South Korea fan from Orange County, believes that the two immigrant communities share love and respect because they often have similar backstories.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 19, 2026

His script is richly layered with character details and heartwrenching backstories that encourage the viewer to go deeper, to spend time analyzing their own discomfort.

From Salon ● Jun. 15, 2026

Eleri said her work had enabled her to travel the UK and meet "so many amazing fellow shirt sellers, people with so many interesting backstories".

From BBC ● Jun. 12, 2026

An 11‑year‑old girl is behind the notices and over the past year has spent her family walks inventing backstories for each tree.

From BBC ● Apr. 7, 2026

Eddie seems less interested in the music and more interested in telling me the long backstories of all the members of the band.

From "The Wrong Way Home" by Kate O’Shaughnessy