scenario

[ si-nair-ee-oh, -nahr- ]

noun

, plural sce·nar·i·os.

1. an outline of the plot of a dramatic work, giving particulars as to the scenes, characters, situations, etc.
2. the outline or the manuscript of a motion picture or television program, giving the action in the order in which it takes place, the description of scenes and characters, etc.
3. an imagined or projected sequence of events, especially any of several detailed plans or possibilities:

   One scenario calls for doubling profits by increasing our advertising, the other by reducing costs.

   Synonyms: sketch, concept, plan, scheme

scenario

/ sɪˈnɑːrɪˌəʊ; ˈsiːnərɪst; sɪˈnɑː- /

noun

1. a summary of the plot of a play, etc, including information about its characters, scenes, etc
2. a predicted sequence of events

   let's try another scenario, involving the demise of democracy

Derived Forms

• scenarist, noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of scenario¹

First recorded in 1875–80; from Italian, from Latin scaenārium, scēnārium, noun use of scaenārius, scēnārius “belonging to the stage, theatrical,” from scaen(a), scēn(a) “background, stage, theater” ( scene ) + -ārius -ary

Word History and Origins

Origin of scenario¹

C19: via Italian from Latin scēnārium, from scēna; see scene

Example Sentences

In all scenarios, oil demand peaks within the next decade, although the first two scenarios suggest the peak has already come.

From Fortune

The doomsday scenario is that … 90 percent of the traffic that you’re now generating through an app on an iOS device is not trackable.

From Digiday

To that end, we asked about a range of incentives and scenarios that might cause people to opt-in.

From Search Engine Land

Best- and worst-case scenarios refer to the panel’s 90th and 10th percentile forecasts, respectively.

From FiveThirtyEight

Because, again, there are no perfect scenarios and there are also no perfect models of how to prevent outbreaks.

From Freakonomics

The scenario in which you are proposed to in public is very different to the one done in private.

From The Daily Beast

Making this scenario more complicated is the rivalry between al Qaeda and ISIS.

From The Daily Beast

He declared himself “satisfied with that scenario” noting that his campaign had a “better GOTV operation.”

From The Daily Beast

In a best-case scenario they cover the mechanics of reproduction, STD awareness, and contraceptive use.

From The Daily Beast

Even in a less-bad scenario, women might be objectified or used.

From The Daily Beast

(Thoughtfully to himself) I wonder how a rough scenario would strike the managers.

From Project Gutenberg

He would not say anything very definite about it—he just didn't like the story—it had not come up to the promise of the scenario.

From Project Gutenberg

He wrote out a "scenario" of his projected novel, and sent this to his publisher, to see if he could get a contract in advance.

From Project Gutenberg

He made out a "scenario" of the rest of his new book, and sent it with the part he had already done to his friend Mr. Ardsley.

From Project Gutenberg

Ruth discovered that she could write a good scenario—a very good scenario, indeed.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• plot
• scheme