backstory
noun
a narrative providing a history or background context, especially for a character or situation in a literary work, film, or dramatic series.
backstories
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pluralof backstory.plural
The grammatical form denoting more than one person, place, thing, or idea.
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.
Dramatic backstories about "secret inventions" or "industry breakthroughs"
From BBC ● Jul. 10, 2026
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
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
What’s a bit befuddling is how “All Her Fault” introduces major elements of its characters’ backstories far later than seems fair on the part of the storytellers, or judicious on the part of the parents.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 5, 2025
We create entire backstories, including betrayals, missing parents—the works.
From "Kwame Crashes the Underworld" by Craig Kofi Farmer
