soap opera

noun

1

a

: a serial drama performed originally on a daytime radio or television program and chiefly characterized by tangled interpersonal situations and melodramatic or sentimental treatment

b

: a series of real-life events resembling a soap opera

2

: the melodrama and sentimentality characteristic of a soap opera

… even cops need a little soap opera in their lives …

—Joseph Wambaugh

also : something (such as a novel) having such qualities

soap-operatic

ˈsōp-ˌä-pə-ˈra-tik 

adjective

Synonyms of soap opera

• sludge
• corn

Examples of soap opera in a Sentence

She loves to watch daytime soap operas.

the movie started out well, but quickly devolved into improbable soap opera

Recent Examples on the Web

Goldberg was in Italy to film a role on the Italian soap opera Un Posto Al Sole. —Joey Nolfi, Entertainment Weekly, 1 Dec. 2025

In the 1980s, DeLano continued to land roles, having played Frank Coyne on the NBC primetime soap opera Flamingo Road as well as a doomed car salesman in 1985’s Commando alongside Arnold Schwarzenegger. —Desiree Anello, PEOPLE, 26 Nov. 2025

Jonathan Farwell, who appeared on soap operas, on Broadway and on regional stages for six decades but never got a chance to go on for Yul Brynner in The King and I despite serving as his understudy for hundreds of shows, has died. —Mike Barnes, HollywoodReporter, 25 Nov. 2025

Preven got his start as an assistant producer on the NBC soap opera Santa Barbara in 1988 and later became an associate producer. —Erik Pedersen, Deadline, 11 Nov. 2025

Word History

Etymology

from its sponsorship by soap manufacturers

First Known Use

1938, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Kids Definition

soap opera

noun

: a radio or television drama presented in a series of continuing stories and characters and intended to appeal to the emotions

Etymology

so called because the advertisers on these programs were usually soap manufacturers