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

Example Sentences

A young woman writes radio soap operas in Cuba, where she falls in love with a director who brings her scripts to life.

From Washington Post

It’s like a sitcom and a soap opera, and a drama and a documentary because we’re also highlighting and accurately portraying this aspect of immigrant life, Nigerian immigrant life.

From Ozy

The drama, simmering for years, may appear to be a stand-alone soap opera pitting the mercurial Rodgers against the rigid Packers, who seldom stray from their sustainable team-building model.

From Washington Post

While marketers dabbling in entertainment is nothing new — the soap opera was created thanks to Procter & Gamble’s sponsorship, after all — how brands do so has evolved.

From Digiday

The show retains some of the primetime soap opera elements of Riverdale, but it incorporates more full-blown horror without bowing to the niceties imposed by network television.

From Ars Technica

It was a Senate floor soap opera over none other than a soap-opera producer.

From The Daily Beast

The show is as precisely plotted as a soap opera and beautifully lit; entirely, fatally addictive.

From The Daily Beast

As a side note, James and Gilbert being forced to hug it out might be the most shocking twist in this entire soap opera.

From The Daily Beast

Meanwhile, Tony had married his college girlfriend, Cynthia Carrafa, a soap-opera actress and producer, and had started a family.

From The Daily Beast

Going played Arlene, the star of the soap opera that Mel writes for, who mentors Megan.

From The Daily Beast

In many ways, the armed conflict ended up trivialized, another soap opera or spectator sport.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• melodrama
• serial
• soap