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Definition of backstory

backstory

/ˈbækˌstɔːri/
back · sto · ry
Plural:backstories
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backstory Lexical Profile

backstory Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

A history or background created for a fictional character in a motion picture, television program, or work of literature, consisting of events preceding the main plot.

Example

"The screenwriter developed a detailed backstory to explain the protagonist's fear of water."

2

The real-life events, circumstances, or context leading up to a current situation, person's status, or public event.

Example

"Journalists spent weeks investigating the backstory behind the sudden corporate merger."

Synonyms
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Antonyms
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• Nearby Words

backstage
backstitch
backstop
backstory
backstraight
backstreet
backstretch

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Backstory. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/backstory
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