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

It’s worth noting that Eatherly’s origin story comes only from Eatherly’s own lips.

From Slate ● Aug. 20, 2026

I particularly enjoyed listening to Tarang’s origin story.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 10, 2026

It’s a surprisingly sour approach for a Facebook origin story.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 29, 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

Instead, Hoover created a pristine origin story, a founding mythology in which the bureau, under his direction, had emerged from lawlessness and overcome the last wild American frontier.

From "Killers of the Flower Moon" by David Grann