backstory
noun
back·story
ˈbak-ˌstȯr-ē 
: a story that tells what led up to the main story or plot (as of a film)
Examples of backstory in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Comic fans will delight in the number of Easter eggs and obscure characters, such as Metamorpho, but casual viewers might find the sheer number of characters with little in the way of backstory to be confusing.
—
Jeff Suess, The Enquirer, 8 July 2025
Fox News and similar corners of the internet were ablaze with myopic insistences that any inclusion of, or even nod to, this rather essential, commonplace, and well-known part of the Superman backstory made the new movie, somehow, another piece of woke Hollywood nonsense.
—Jon Blistein, Rolling Stone, 8 July 2025
Fast-paced, gripping and featuring an unforgettable cast of characters, from high society women to a musical con artist, this one had our staff frantically Googling every character's backstory.
—Lizz Schumer, People.com, 3 July 2025
Moreover, some toddlers can also be quite bossy and demand that pretend play reaches their standards of entertainment and originality, instructing parents on the intricacies of the backstory and dialogue.
—Melissa Willets, Parents, 2 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for backstory
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Jeff Suess, The Enquirer, 8 July 2025
Fox News and similar corners of the internet were ablaze with myopic insistences that any inclusion of, or even nod to, this rather essential, commonplace, and well-known part of the Superman backstory made the new movie, somehow, another piece of woke Hollywood nonsense.
—Jon Blistein, Rolling Stone, 8 July 2025
Fast-paced, gripping and featuring an unforgettable cast of characters, from high society women to a musical con artist, this one had our staff frantically Googling every character's backstory.
—Lizz Schumer, People.com, 3 July 2025
Moreover, some toddlers can also be quite bossy and demand that pretend play reaches their standards of entertainment and originality, instructing parents on the intricacies of the backstory and dialogue.
—Melissa Willets, Parents, 2 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for backstory
Cite this Entry
“Backstory.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/backstory. Accessed 22 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share