Phrase guide

background music

noun · 2 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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1

noun

Meaning 1

Any music played in a public space whose main function is to create an atmosphere suitable to a specific occasion, rather than to be listened to.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: uncountable

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

noun

Meaning 2

Any music in a film, video game, or other medium that establishes mood and is not meant to be the focus of attention.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: uncountable

Topics: entertainment, lifestyle, music

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

No etymology was provided for this word.

Across languages

Translations

50 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Afrikaans: agtergrondmusiek — music played in a public space
  • Bulgarian: фо́нова му́зика (fónova múzika) — music played in a public space
  • Catalan: música de fons — music played in a public space
  • Chinese Cantonese: 背景音樂 /背景音乐 (bui3 ging2 jam1 ngok6) — music played in a public space
  • Chinese Mandarin: 背景音樂 /背景音乐 (bèijǐng yīnyuè) — music played in a public space
  • Chinese Mandarin: 背景音 (bèijǐngyīn) — music played in a public space
  • Finnish: taustamusiikki — music played in a public space
  • French: musique d'ambiance — music played in a public space
  • German: Hintergrundmusik — music played in a public space
  • German: Kaufhausmusik — music played in a public space
  • German: Fahrstuhlmusik — music played in a public space
  • Hungarian: háttérzene — music played in a public space
  • Icelandic: bakgrunnstónlist — music played in a public space
  • Icelandic: fylgitónlist — music played in a public space
  • Japanese: 背景音楽 (haikei ongaku) — music played in a public space
  • Japanese: BGM (bījīemu) — music played in a public space
  • Japanese: バックグラウンドミュージック (bakkuguraundo myūjikku) — music played in a public space
  • Korean: 배경음악 (baegyeong'eumak) — music played in a public space
  • Korean: 백그라운드 뮤직 (baekgeuraundeu myujik) — music played in a public space
  • Korean: 브금 (beugeum) — music played in a public space
  • Portuguese: música de fundo — music played in a public space
  • Portuguese: música ambiente — music played in a public space
  • Romanian: muzică de ambianță — music played in a public space
  • Russian: фо́новая му́зыка (fónovaja múzyka) — music played in a public space
  • Spanish: hilo musical — music played in a public space
  • Spanish: música fondal — music played in a public space
  • Spanish: música de fondo — music played in a public space
  • Swedish: bakgrundsmusik — music played in a public space
  • Tamil: பின்னணி இசை (piṉṉaṇi icai) — music played in a public space
  • Chinese Cantonese: 背景音乐 (bui3 ging2 jam1 ngok6) — music in a film, video game or other medium
  • Chinese Mandarin: 背景音樂 /背景音乐 (bèijǐng yīnyuè) — music in a film, video game or other medium
  • Chinese Mandarin: 背景音 (bèijǐngyīn) — music in a film, video game or other medium
  • Finnish: taustamusiikki — music in a film, video game or other medium
  • French: musique de fond — music in a film, video game or other medium
  • French: musique de fosse — music in a film, video game or other medium
  • German: Bühnenmusik — music in a film, video game or other medium
  • Hungarian: kísérőzene — music in a film, video game or other medium
  • Icelandic: bakgrunnstónlist — music in a film, video game or other medium
  • Japanese: 背景音楽 (haikei ongaku) — music in a film, video game or other medium
  • Japanese: BGM (bījīemu) — music in a film, video game or other medium
  • Japanese: バックグラウンドミュージック (bakkuguraundo myūjikku) — music in a film, video game or other medium
  • Kannada: ಹಿನ್ನೆಲೆ ಸಂಗೀತ (hinnele saṅgīta) — music in a film, video game or other medium
  • Korean: 배경음악 (baegyeong'eumak) — music in a film, video game or other medium
  • Korean: 백그라운드 뮤직 (baekgeuraundeu myujik) — music in a film, video game or other medium
  • Korean: 브금 (beugeum) — music in a film, video game or other medium
  • Marathi: पार्श्वसंगीत (pārśvasaṅgīt) — music in a film, video game or other medium
  • Polish: podkład — music in a film, video game or other medium
  • Portuguese: música de fundo — music in a film, video game or other medium
  • Russian: фо́новая му́зыка (fónovaja múzyka) — music in a film, video game or other medium
  • Tamil: பின்னணி இசை (piṉṉaṇi icai) — music in a film, video game or other medium