offscreen

American  

[awf-skreen, of-] / ˈɔfˈskrin, ˈɒf- /

adjective

1. occurring, existing, or done away from the motion-picture or television screen.

   an offscreen voice.

2. in real life rather than on the motion-picture or television screen.

   the newscaster's offscreen personality.

---

adverb

1. apart or away from motion-picture or television performances; in actual life.

   Offscreen he's a racing-car enthusiast.

Etymology

Origin of offscreen

First recorded in 1930–35; off + screen

Example Sentences

Ms. Keaton’s elegant looks, warm laugh, broad smile, her canny intelligence and broad streak of whimsy made her as sought-after offscreen as on.

From The Wall Street Journal • Oct. 12, 2025

One thing she says she struggled with was being asked by producers to repeat conversations she'd had with Javen offscreen for the cameras.

From BBC • Sep. 2, 2025

Yet, offscreen, she was an avid reader with strongly held leftist political views, who chose divorce when her husbands tried to limit her professional ambitions.

From Salon • May 23, 2025

Freed from convention, he and Barnes filled their pages with descriptions of sounds and smells, plus dialogue that often pipes in from offscreen.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 26, 2025

Watching Tony’s car through the window is like watching a movie, the Mustang backing slowly offscreen.

From "Thirteen Reasons Why" by Jay Asher