Definition of trope
1a : a word or expression used in a figurative sense : figure of speechb : a common or overused theme or device : cliché the usual horror movie tropes
2 : a phrase or verse added as an embellishment or interpolation to the sung parts of the Mass in the Middle Ages
From the M-W Editors
Examples of trope in a Sentence
a screenplay that reads like a catalog of mystery-thriller tropes
Recent Examples of trope from the Web
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This is a trope that has been examined extensively and knocked down.
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If an ambitious women’s studies major decided that her thesis would be a movie in which film-noir tropes of the femme fatale are married to a denunciation of the patriarchy, the result might be very close to William Oldroyd’s Lady Macbeth.
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Now, the Intergalactic Travel Bureau has released a book, one that adopts most of the tropes of a typical tourist guide.
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Spider-Man: Homecoming wonderfully side-steps this trope, as Parker’s motivation rests squarely on himself—a teenager coming to terms with his newfound strength and pushing himself to be better.
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As a mainstream entertainment, The Line includes a lot of the familiar tropes from the crime, thriller and family-drama genres.
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That trope is exactly what plays out in Wonder Woman.
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Wingard is probably the buzziest director in horror right now, crafting movies that play homage to and subvert basic horror tropes—
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The sound of a crying baby on a flight is among the most overused tropes in flying.
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'trope.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Origin and Etymology of trope
Latin tropus, from Greek tropos turn, way, manner, style, trope, from trepein to turn
Other Grammar and Linguistics Terms
TROPE Defined for English Language Learners
trope
playDefinition of trope for English Language Learners
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: a word, phrase, or image used in a new and different way in order to create an artistic effect
Learn More about trope
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See words that rhyme with trope Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for trope Nglish: Translation of trope for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of trope for Arabic speakers Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about trope
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