noun

the circumstances that form the setting for an event, statement, or idea, and in terms of which it can be fully understood.

the proposals need to be considered in the context of new European directives

circumstances,conditions,surroundings,factors,state of affairs,situation,environment,milieu,setting,background,backdrop,scene,climate,atmosphere,ambience,mood,feel,frame of reference,contextual relationship,text,subject,theme,topic