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space opera

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

noun

  1. a television or radio drama or motion picture that is a science-fiction adventure story.

space opera British  

noun

  1. a science fiction drama, such as a film or television programme, esp one dealing with interplanetary flight

"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

Etymology

Origin of space opera

First recorded in 1945–50

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.

It's a genre of movie he is no stranger to, having starred in Neil Armstrong biography First Man in 2018, whilst he is also set to appear in the upcoming Star Wars: Starfighter space opera.

From BBC • Mar. 18, 2026

“Star Wars” is a space opera and a series of family movies made, in part, with toy licensing in mind.

From Salon • Sep. 8, 2025

The main, and most interesting characters, not to say the star power, in this space opera are Valya Harkonnen, played by Emily Watson, and her sister Tula, played by Olivia Williams.

From Los Angeles Times • Nov. 17, 2024

Sofia Boutella and Djimon Hounsou lead the ensemble cast in Snyder’s “Star War” riff space opera.

From Seattle Times • Apr. 14, 2024

Folks need to get their space opera life right.

From "On the Come Up" by Angie Thomas

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

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.