back story

British

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

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

back story

Each player has their own individual back story, but Hantuchova believes there is a shared mentality which helps players from those countries to defy the odds against them.

From BBC ● Jun. 4, 2026

A particularly intriguing chapter in Hill's back story is her link to one of the most famous episodes in UFO folklore.

From Barron's ● May 29, 2026

The wording has a back story, said Yun Sun, director of the China program at the Stimson Center.

From The Wall Street Journal ● May 19, 2026

The former MP also has a compelling back story.

From BBC ● Jan. 12, 2026

First, there’s a pantomimed back story: During the overture, actors depicting the lovers as young teens flirt and are discouraged by adults.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jan. 2, 2026

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023