soap opera

[op-er-uh, op-ruh]

noun

1. a radio or television series depicting the interconnected lives of many characters often in a sentimental, melodramatic way.

soap opera

noun

1. a serialized drama, usually dealing with domestic themes and characterized by sentimentality, broadcast on radio or television

Word History and Origins

Origin of soap opera¹

An Americanism dating back to 1935–40; so called because soap manufacturers were among the original sponsors of such programs

Word History and Origins

Origin of soap opera¹

C20: so called because manufacturers of soap were typical sponsors

Idioms and Phrases

A radio or television serial with stock characters in domestic dramas that are noted for being sentimental and melodramatic. For example, She just watches soap operas all day long . This term originated in the mid-1930s and was so called because the sponsors of the earliest such radio shows were often soap manufacturers.

Real-life situation resembling one that might occur in a soap opera, as in She just goes on and on about her various medical and family problems, one long soap opera . [1940s]

Example Sentences

Fundamentally, these shows are primetime soap operas – a genre that hasn’t seen a hit on network TV in many seasons.

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Caesar denigrated situation comedies as soap operas with laughs added.

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Welsh fans just need something to hold onto - that things can and will be different in the future after the exhausting soap opera of the past few years.

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In an Instagram reel plugging a new song, ‘Selling Sunset’ and soap opera star Chrishell Stause confirmed Wednesday that she has married musician G Flip.

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For some, the focus on Musk and the soap opera around his pay is symptomatic of how the car firm - which has seen sales slide - has lost its way under his leadership.

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Related Words

• melodrama 
• serial 
• soap