soap opera

American  

[op-er-uh, op-ruh] / ˈɒp ər ə, ˈɒp rə /

noun

soap operas plural

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

---

soap opera British  

noun

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

---

soap opera Idioms  

1. 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.

2. 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]

---

Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• soap operas
  plural

Etymology

Origin of soap opera

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

Example Sentences

It appears to be curtains again for “All My Children,” the soap opera that ran four decades on ABC before being canceled, then resurrected as an Internet series.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 23, 2026

Goodrem rose to fame in hit Australian soap opera Neighbours and recently represented her nation in the 2026 edition of the Eurovision Song Contest.

From BBC • Jun. 19, 2026

"Musk was creating noise around this lawsuit but ultimately it was more of a soap opera than a long-term negative for OpenAI," he added.

From Barron's • May 18, 2026

So much drama has happened at the Fed lately that it might as well be a soap opera.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 15, 2026

Bobbette yelled from the kitchen, where she sat watching a soap opera.

From "The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks" by Rebecca Skloot

Related Words

• melodrama
• serial
• soap