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

Growing up, Ahmed recalls his parents watching Indian soap operas, which were formulaic and often featured family events with everyone dressed in their finest garb, inevitably ending in a dramatic bust-up. — Jazz Tangcay, Variety, 12 Aug. 2026

Slapping and/or being slapped was one of Oliver’s handful of requests for his soap opera appearance, along with playing a character with a ridiculous name, and wearing an equally ridiculous wig. — Jon Blistein, Rolling Stone, 11 Aug. 2026

Taleno, who migrated with his family to Hialeah at age 3, did indeed first get to know the Colombian bombshell back in her soap opera and TV hosting days. — Madeleine Marr, Miami Herald, 11 Aug. 2026

Cypher appeared in 160 episodes of the soap opera, which ran for one season in 1962. — Tim Lammers, Forbes.com, 10 Aug. 2026

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