off-screen

adverb or adjective

variants or offscreen
1
: out of sight of the movie or television viewer
a shot fired off-screen
Before long, Anthony introduces himself to the family pooch, who is whooshed away to an off-screen death.Kris Turnquist
2
: in private life : when not appearing in a movie, on television, etc.
Moyer's off-screen magnetism comes from a down-to-earth friendliness.Kate Hahn
Pfeiffer, 34, remains a mystery woman offscreen.Michael A. Lipton

Examples of off-screen in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
However, the fan favorite Manhattanite made an off-screen appearance through a text conversation with Sarah Jessica Parker's Carrie. Anthony Robledo, USA Today, 19 July 2025 But off-screen, de Faría was searching for a super dog of her own. Angel Saunders, People.com, 18 July 2025 That same intentionality shines through in her off-screen rituals. Essence, 18 July 2025 Dogs that were more excitable were more likely to exhibit follow behaviors such as tracking an object off-screen. New Atlas, 17 July 2025 Their off-screen drama was just as juicy as what happened on TV. Jason Pham, StyleCaster, 15 July 2025 The show returned in October of that year and featured every original cast member except Barr, whose character's disappearance was explained by an off-screen death. Ashley Hume, FOXNews.com, 12 July 2025 Barceló conveys that truth by keeping the focus on Gaia at her most private moments — group therapy sessions and court proceedings are kept strenuously off-screen — or in one-to-one dialogue scenes that range from openly confessional to confrontational to, on rare occasions, fleetingly convivial. Guy Lodge, Variety, 10 July 2025 The show ran for 7 seasons from 2011 to 2018 New Girl featured some of the most unforgettable on-screen relationships of the 2010s — but the cast's off-screen relationships are just as adorable. Julie Tremaine, People.com, 6 July 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1916, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Time Traveler
The first known use of off-screen was in 1916

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Cite this Entry

“Off-screen.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/off-screen. Accessed 24 Jul. 2025.

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