scenario

noun

sce·​nar·​io sə-ˈner-ē-ˌō 

 US also and especially British  -ˈnär-

plural scenarios

1

a

: an outline or synopsis of a play

especially : a plot outline used by actors of the commedia dell'arte

b

: the libretto of an opera

2

a

: screenplay

b

: shooting script

3

: a sequence of events especially when imagined

especially : an account or synopsis of a possible course of action or events

his scenario for a settlement envisages … reunification

—Selig Harrison

Synonyms

• script
• screenplay

Examples of scenario in a Sentence

A possible scenario would be that we move to the city.

The most likely scenario is that he goes back to school in the fall.

The best-case scenario would be for us to finish the work by tomorrow.

In the worst-case scenario, we would have to start the project all over again.

Recent Examples on the Web

The necessary compensation, Atlanta’s disinterest in moving him and the amount of money the Bengals would need to take on with Cousins’ salary make this an unlikely scenario, even though Cousins would be the best football alternative. —Paul Dehner Jr, New York Times, 2 Oct. 2025

Overall, food prices would drop by about 3% in this scenario. —Sandee Lamotte, CNN Money, 2 Oct. 2025

The physicist’s calculations indicate the latter scenario is likely. —Sujita Sinha, Interesting Engineering, 2 Oct. 2025

As the shutdown continues, CFOs should prioritize agility in scenario planning, Daco said. —Sheryl Estrada, Fortune, 2 Oct. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Italian, from Latin scaenarium place for erecting stages, from scaena stage

First Known Use

1768, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Kids Definition

scenario

noun

sce·​nar·​io sə-ˈnar-ē-ˌō 

-ˈner-,

-ˈnär-

plural scenarios

1

a

: an outline of a play

b

: the text of an opera

2

: screenplay

3

: a sequence of events especially when imagined