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/ˈbækˌstɔːɹi/ · noun
The previous experiences and life of a person, specifically (narratology, especially in film, television) a character in a dramatic work..
What’s the backstory of our new colleague?
These backstories cast the characters' behavior in a new light: of course Gertrude would promptly marry the man who saved her from abuse; of course Ophelia would be desperate and indiscreet in seeking Hamlet's love.
Inexplicably, and at great risk to the integrity of the movie, the filmmakers have burdened him with a psychological back story pulled out of a folder in some studio filing cabinet. Why does [Willy] Wonka spend his days confecting sweets?
Agent Lyla: Enough back story! / Dr. Doofenshmirtz: Actually, that's not, uh … that's not really a back story, it's just expositional flashback. It doesn't, uh, have any childhood trauma, it's doesn't really inform who he is, it's not … it's just flashback. There's a difference. It's subtle, but there's a difference.
Prince Harry may yet turn out to be the crown’s best insurance policy. By marrying Meghan Markle, he is linking royalty with a 21st-century celebrity who has a backstory that many people in Britain can identify with.
Use back story when its meaning, tone and grammar fit the full sentence. A synonym is not always a direct replacement.
Back story means The previous experiences and life of a person, specifically (narratology, especially in film, television) a character in a dramatic work..
Common synonyms include background story, cover story.
The opposite depends on the specific sense.
What’s the backstory of our new colleague?
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