What's the difference between
and
Enter two words to compare and contrast their definitions, origins, and synonyms to better understand how those words are related.

Background vs Backdrop - What's the difference?

background | backdrop |

As nouns the difference between background and backdrop

is that background is one's social heritage; what one did in the past/previously while backdrop is a decorated cloth hung at the back of a stage.

As verbs the difference between background and backdrop

is that background is to put in a position that is not prominent while backdrop is to serve as a backdrop for.

background

English

Noun

(en noun)
  • One's social heritage; what one did in the past/previously.
  • A part of the picture that depicts scenery to the rear or behind the main subject; context.
  • * {{quote-magazine, year=2013, month=May-June, author= William E. Conner
    • , title= An Acoustic Arms Race , volume=101, issue=3, page=206-7, magazine=(American Scientist) , passage=Earless ghost swift moths become “invisible” to echolocating bats by forming mating clusters close
  • Information relevant to the current situation about past events; history.
  • A less important feature of scenery (as opposed to foreground).
  • (computing) The image or color, over which a computer's desktop items are shown (e.g. icons or application windows).
  • (computing) Activity on a computer that is not normally visible to the user.

    • Derived terms

    * on background * background fodder

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • To put in a position that is not prominent

    • backdrop

    English

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • A decorated cloth hung at the back of a stage.
  • The setting or background of a historical event.
    • The president spoke outside the brick exterior of the firehouse for Ladder Company 10 and Engine Company 10, against the backdrop of a 56-foot-long bronze bas-relief depicting the towers in flames. — New York Times
  • * {{quote-news, year=2012
    • , date=May 9 , author=John Percy , title=Birmingham City 2 Blackpool 2 (2-3 on agg): match report , work=the Telegraph citation , page= , passage=Blackpool’s aggregate victory ensures Birmingham are now preparing for a potential summer of change. Manager Chris Hughton has been operating against a backdrop of financial uncertainty all season and last night Peter Pannu, the vice-chairman, announced that the club’s accounts would finally be published next week, and that a new investor had been identified.}}

    Verb

    (backdropp)
  • To serve as a backdrop for.
    • a brilliant sunset backdropping the famous skyline

    Anagrams

    *