origin story

American  

[awr-i-jin stawr-ee, or-i-jin] / ˈɔr ɪ dʒɪn ˌstɔr i, ˈɒr ɪ dʒɪn /

noun

1. a backstory, or established background narrative, that informs the identity and motivations of heroes and villains in a comic book or similar fictional work.

   The superhero’s origin story begins with a tragic accident that left him scarred, but also resulted in his supernatural powers.

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Etymology

Origin of origin story

First recorded in 1910–15

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

origin story

But its board of governors is not actually quasi-private or unique, except in the sense that all federal agencies have some unique origin story.

From Slate ● Jun. 29, 2026

“Cancel Me If You Can” is part Barstool origin story, part unorthodox management manual and part rebuttal to the critics who have shadowed his rise.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 27, 2026

Whether every detail of that origin story is accurate has become a subject of dispute, but the political alliance that emerged from it is undeniable.

From Salon ● Jun. 15, 2026

Whatever the origin story, fans will be reassured to know they'll be hearing them when the band play their first proper gig in two decades later this year.

From BBC ● Jun. 11, 2026

That was the origin story of Jule West Williams.

From "Genuine Fraud" by E. Lockhart