# backstory

> English word · Noun · IPA /ˈbækˌstɔːɹi/ · frequency rank #24,092

## Definitions
1. The previous experiences and life of a person, specifically (narratology, especially in film, television) a character in a dramatic work.
2. A fictitious account of a person's history designed to conceal their actual history and motives.

## Etymology
From back- (prefix meaning ‘in, into, or towards the past’) + story.

## Easily confused with
- **backstop** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/backstop-vs-backstory)

## Common misspellings (15)
`abckstory`, `bacckstory`, `backkstory`, `backsotry`, `backsstory`, `backstorry`, `backstoryy`, `backstoyr`, `backstroy`, `backsttory`, `backtsory`, `bacsktory`, `bakcstory`, `bbackstory`, `bcakstory`

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