# backstop vs backstory

> English confusable word pair

## The two words

### backstop
*noun · IPA /ˈbæk.stɒp/ · frequency rank #46,921*
An object or a person put in the rear or in the back of something to reinforce, hold, support.

### backstory
*noun · IPA /ˈbækˌstɔːɹi/ · frequency rank #24,092*
The previous experiences and life of a person, specifically (narratology, especially in film, television) a character in a dramatic work.

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/vs/backstop-vs-backstory