backdrop

[bak-drop]

noun

1. especially British, back-cloth. Theater.,  the rear curtain of a stage setting.

2. the background of an event; setting.

3. Gymnastics.,  a maneuver in which a trampolinist jumps in the air, lands on the back with the arms and legs pointed upward, and then springs up to a standing position.

verb (used with object)

backdropped, backdropt, backdropping. 

1. to provide a setting or background for.

   A vast mountain range backdrops the broad expanse of lake.

backdrop

/ ˈbækˌdrɒp /

noun

1. another name for backcloth

2. the background to any scene or situation

Word History and Origins

Origin of backdrop¹

An Americanism dating back to 1910–15; back ¹ + drop

Example Sentences

European and African leaders gather in Angola Monday for a summit aimed at deepening economic and security ties that will serve as a backdrop to emergency talks on Ukraine.

Read more on Barron's

Retailers will be hoping their Black Friday deals attract shoppers, but tariffs have raised concerns that consumers with lower incomes may hesitate to spend against a backdrop of elevated inflation.

Read more on MarketWatch

All the above is set against a backdrop of paranoia, a common feature of this type of dementia.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Atkinson began his professional career against the backdrop of the unbearable tragedy of his mother dying in a road traffic accident.

Read more on BBC

“However, this commitment to defense is against a backdrop of fiscal strain, which increases the relevance of Babcock’s focus on affordability, availability and capability.”

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• scenery 

When To Use

What does backdrop mean?

Backdrop refers to the background or setting of a situation or event.It can refer to something physically located in the background of something else, such as a backdrop used for a photo shoot. It can also be used figuratively to refer to circumstances that surround an event, as in a backdrop of scandal and accusations of fraud. More specifically, a backdrop is the curtain that hangs at the back of the stage in a theater, as in We have to fix the rips in the backdrop before the big show. Less commonly, backdrop can also be used as a verb to mean providing a background for something, as in The towering trees backdropped the outdoor photo shoot. Example: The film took place against the backdrop of World War II and featured major events from the war.