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.

• "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."