backstory

or back sto·ry

[ bak-stawr-ee, ‐stohr-ee ]

/ ˈbækˌstɔr i, ‐ˌstoʊr i /

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noun, plural back·sto·ries.

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

prequel.

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CAN YOU ANSWER THESE COMMON GRAMMAR DEBATES?

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Question 1 of 7

Which sentence is correct?

His boss, whom he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

His boss, who he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

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Origin of backstory

1980–85; back¹ + story¹

How to use backstory in a sentence

From this simple new back-story, the rest of the two-year arc flows naturally.
Wonder Woman Makes a Triumphant Comeback in a New Comic Series|Hugh Ryan|March 13, 2014|DAILY BEAST
And he and I worked out how we were going to do the back story because the hair has to do something.
The ‘American Hustle’ Style Guide|Erin Cunningham|February 14, 2014|DAILY BEAST
You want a wine with a good back story, so you can impress that hottie in the LBD standing awkwardly beneath the mistletoe.
An Idiot’s Guide to New Year’s Wine|Winston Ross|December 28, 2012|DAILY BEAST
But as Matt DeLuca reports, her business and personal back story is more complicated.
Jennifer Sultan’s Arrest for Gun Running Caps Long Fall From Internet Success|Matthew DeLuca|July 20, 2012|DAILY BEAST

The back story here is that reporting on the details of competing budget proposals is monstrously boring.
The Gov't's Shutdown Sham|Howard Kurtz|March 2, 2011|DAILY BEAST

British Dictionary definitions for backstory

back story

noun

the events which take place before, and which help to bring about, the events portrayed in a film

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012