Definitions

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

  • adverb In or toward the area behind the performing space in a theater, especially the area comprising the dressing rooms.
  • adverb In secret; privately.
  • adjective Of, relating to, occurring in, or situated behind the performing area of a theater.
  • adjective Concealed from the public; private.

from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.

  • noun (theater) the area on the stage out of sight of the audience.
  • adjective concealed from the public; in private.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • adjective Relating to, or situated in the area behind a stage.
  • adjective Secret, concealed from the public.
  • adverb Towards the area behind the stage.
  • adverb Out of view of the public.
  • noun The area behind a stage, especially that of the dressing rooms.

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

  • adjective concealed from public view or attention
  • adverb out of view of the public; behind the scenes
  • adverb in or to a backstage area of a theater
  • noun a stage area out of sight of the audience

Etymologies

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

back +‎ stage

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Examples

  • Mon 10/19/09 1: 23 PM nevermind the fact that she had clearly popped some oxycodin backstage before the show, she was almost as bad as robbie williams the week before, but he was clearly coked out, completely different

    Whitney Houston wardrobe malfunction: Yikes, she really didn't need that... | EW.com 2009

  • Today we call the backstage spot right near the curtain the gorilla position in his honor.

    REY MYSTERIO BEHIND THE MASK Rey Mysterio with Jeremy Roberts 2009

  • Today we call the backstage spot right near the curtain the gorilla position in his honor.

    REY MYSTERIO BEHIND THE MASK Rey Mysterio with Jeremy Roberts 2009

  • Today we call the backstage spot right near the curtain the gorilla position in his honor.

    REY MYSTERIO BEHIND THE MASK Rey Mysterio with Jeremy Roberts 2009

  • I can't blame them: the area in question, though backstage, is in sight of patrons, and seeing someone puffing away can "ruin the magic."

    A Bland and Deadly Courtesy skzbrust 2006

  • Dear sir and wole US governemnt Please do not support Iranian regime in backstage, we do not need your help to cick them out, thanks for the 1979 revolution that you helped to happen and put these idiot CIA agents on iranian governemnt!!!!!

    Think Progress » Kristol Suggests People of Iran Would Embrace U.S. Attack, Triggering Regime Change 2006

  • It's tough enough to emerge unscathed-much less recall any real trends that emerge from the flurry of commotion that in industry speak is known as "backstage" at

    SFGate: Don Asmussen: Bad Reporter Nerissa Pacio Itchon 2011

  • They found themselves playing in the finals, and afterwards, Hungate found himself called backstage among the top three finishers to pick out their choice of mandolins to be presented later onstage along with the trophies and cash prizes.

    Mandolin Cafe News 2009

  • They found themselves playing in the finals, and afterwards, Hungate found himself called backstage among the top three finishers to pick out their choice of mandolins to be presented later onstage along with the trophies and cash prizes.

    Mandolin Cafe News 2009

  • The Senate campaign for Michael Huffington in California "was fun, except for Arianna," he said, referring to his backstage contretemps with the candidate's then-wife Arianna Huffington.

    Ed Rollins, Republican strategist, joins political consultant hall of fame 2011

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