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

• corn
• sludge

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

Days of Our Lives star Al Calderon reflected on his time on the soap opera in a statement on his Instagram Stories. —Julia Moore, People.com, 7 Aug. 2025

Fans of Amazon Prime’s teen soap opera about a girl in a love triangle with two brothers immediately clocked and freaked out over the crossover moment in episode four of the series, which featured a flashback of a young Belly (Lola Tung) wearing a pair of Roller Rabbit PJs. —Stephanie McNeal, Glamour, 4 Aug. 2025

McCormack began his career on the Irish soap opera Fair City (2015–2016) before rising to prominence as Isaiah Jesus on the hit crime series Peaky Blinders (2019–2022). —Randall Colburn, EW.com, 1 Aug. 2025

His credits include police series El Comisario, youth soap opera Al Salir De Clase, films such as Planta 4ª, Nos Miran and Boca A Boca. —Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 23 July 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