period drama

British

noun

a drama set in a particular historical period

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

That excitement is because it is one of those titles that quietly shaped every period drama and miniseries that came after it.

From Salon • Mar. 28, 2026

A 2014 audition for the HBO period drama Boardwalk Empire marked a turning point.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 10, 2026

McGonigal has since been cast in numerous roles in the West End and landed the role as Hazel in season four of the hit Netflix period drama Bridgerton.

From BBC • Mar. 6, 2026

Jessie Buckley won best actress for her tragic role as the wife of William Shakespeare in period drama "Hamnet."

From Barron's • Jan. 5, 2026

‘Candyman’ director Nia DaCosta and her star bring Henrik Ibsen’s mean girl to vibrant life in a raucous period drama co-starring Imogen Poots and Nina Hoss.

From Los Angeles Times • Oct. 23, 2025

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023