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

Nonetheless, Luke and Laura’s 1981 wedding remains one of the most iconic moments in the history of General Hospital and of soap operas in general. —Victoria Edel, PEOPLE, 15 Dec. 2025

Arguably the most popular actor in soap opera history, Geary received the Emmy for outstanding actor in a daytime drama series in 1982, 1999, 2000, 2004, 2006, 2008, 2012 and 2015 and was nominated nine other times. —Mike Barnes, HollywoodReporter, 15 Dec. 2025

Acting plays an important role in the couple's history, too, with Consuelos and Ripa first meeting as stars on the soap opera All My Children, before they got married in secret in 1996. —Joey Nolfi, Entertainment Weekly, 15 Dec. 2025

The character was eventually paired romantically with Laura Collins (Francis) and became the most popular soap opera couple of all time. —Anika Reed, USA Today, 15 Dec. 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