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Definition of "backstory" []

  • The experiences of a character or the circumstances of an event that occur before the action or narrative of a literary, cinematic, or dramatic work: At rehearsal, the actors developed backstories for their characters. (noun)
  • A prequel. (noun)

American Heritage(R) Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright (c) 2011 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

Use "backstory" in a sentence
  • "In fiction, a backstory is the history behind the situation at the start of the main story."
  • "It's what they call "backstory" in Hollywood pitches."
  • "And while the backstory is appreciated and adds much more dimension to the characters than anything a film adaptation could provide, there were moments where it felt like it droned on a bit much."
Words like "backstory"
atypia blab
blahblah
buryin'
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teriff
understory