backlighting

American  

[bak-lahy-ting] / ˈbækˌlaɪ tɪŋ /

noun

1. a controlled technique of lighting, used in photography or the theater, in which a light is placed behind or at right angles to an object, person, or scene to produce such effects as depth or separation of subject and background.

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Etymology

Origin of backlighting

First recorded in 1950–55; back ¹ + lighting

Example Sentences

Chloe Harmer, 20, used backlighting strips on her mirror in her uni room.

From BBC • Feb. 15, 2026

In the case of “Dancing Through Life,” the heinous backlighting detracted from the majesty of the film’s practical set pieces in the same scene.

From Salon • Jan. 7, 2025

To unveil the distribution of CO ice within this vast cloud, the researchers required intense backlighting from stars and hot gas.

From Science Daily • Dec. 4, 2023

To meet the new caps, manufacturers say they may eliminate backlighting and display clocks that remain lit while the microwave is not in use, as well as some higher-end sensors that improve performance.

From Washington Times • May 7, 2023

The sun had just gone down, and its afterglow was backlighting the city, which formed low cliffs around the bucolic void to the idle stockyards.

From "Slaughterhouse-Five" by Kurt Vonnegut