Word
backdrop
Meanings
A background screen or cloth used behind actors, speakers, or subjects in photos or video.
The natural or visual background behind something, especially something scenic.
The general setting or context in which an event happens.
Definition
A backdrop is the background behind something, especially a scene used for a performance or photo.
A backdrop is the background you see behind a person or event. It can be a painted or printed screen used in a theatre, studio, or on a stage. More generally, it can mean the wider situation or setting that frames what is happening.
Examples
- The singer delivered the ballad with a minimalist backdrop that kept the focus on her voice.
- I chose a neutral backdrop so my product photos would look clean and consistent.
- They held the press conference against the backdrop of growing public frustration.
- You can see the harbor in the backdrop of the interview shot, which makes it feel more authentic.
- He framed the portrait so the mountains formed a dramatic backdrop behind his subject.
Common mistake
Learners sometimes confuse backdrop with background, but backdrop is especially common for staged or intentionally chosen settings and in the phrase “against the backdrop of.”
More at C1 level
- ubiquitous Present, appearing, or found everywhere at the same time.
- xenophobia Xenophobia is a strong dislike or fear of people from other countries or cultures.
- genocide Genocide is the deliberate killing of a large number of people from a particular group in order to …
- conundrum A conundrum is a confusing and difficult problem to solve.
- pretentious Trying to seem more important, intelligent, or cultured than you really are.
More nouns
- fascism Fascism is an extreme right-wing political system with a powerful dictator, strong nationalism, and…
- gaslighting Gaslighting is a form of psychological manipulation that makes someone doubt their own memory, judg…
- narcissist A narcissist is someone who is excessively self-centered and craves admiration while showing little…
- empathy Empathy is the ability to understand and share another person’s feelings.
- metaphor A metaphor is a way of describing something by saying it is something else to create a clear image …