Definitions

soap opera

 Play soap opera
noun
    The definition of a soap opera is a highly dramatic radio or television show.

    An example of a soap opera is the daily television drama Days of Our Lives.

    YourDictionary definition and usage example. Copyright © 2018 by LoveToKnow Corp
    • Link/Cite
    Link to this page

    Cite this page

    MLA Style

    "Soap opera." YourDictionary. LoveToKnow. www.yourdictionary.com/soap-opera.

    APA Style

    Soap opera. (n.d.). In YourDictionary. Retrieved from https://www.yourdictionary.com/soap-opera

soap opera

a radio or television serial drama of a highly melodramatic, sentimental nature

Origin of soap opera

so called because many of the original sponsors were manufacturers of soaps or detergents

Webster's New World College Dictionary, Fifth Edition Copyright © 2014 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
  • Link/Cite
Link to this page

Cite this page

MLA Style

"Soap opera." YourDictionary. LoveToKnow. www.yourdictionary.com/soap-opera.

APA Style

Soap opera. (n.d.). In YourDictionary. Retrieved from https://www.yourdictionary.com/soap-opera

soap opera

noun

  1. A drama, typically performed as a serial on daytime television or radio, characterized by stock characters and situations, sentimentality, and melodrama.
  2. A series of experiences characterized by dramatic displays of emotion.

Origin of soap opera

From its originally having been sponsored by soap companies

THE AMERICAN HERITAGE® DICTIONARY OF THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE, FIFTH EDITION by the Editors of the American Heritage Dictionaries. Copyright © 2016, 2011 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
  • Link/Cite
Link to this page

Cite this page

MLA Style

"Soap opera." YourDictionary. LoveToKnow. www.yourdictionary.com/soap-opera.

APA Style

Soap opera. (n.d.). In YourDictionary. Retrieved from https://www.yourdictionary.com/soap-opera
Noun

(plural soap operas)

  1. A radio or television serial, typically broadcast in the afternoon or evening, about the lives of melodramatic characters, which are often filled with strong emotions, highly dramatic situations and suspense.
Origin

From soap + opera: soap from the soap and detergent commercials originally broadcast during the shows, which were aimed at women who were cleaning their house at the time of viewing; opera from the melodramatic character of the shows.

Adjective

soap-opera

  1. attributive form of soap opera, noun.
    a soap-opera fanzine
English Wiktionary. Available under CC-BY-SA license.
  • Link/Cite
Link to this page

Cite this page

MLA Style

"Soap opera." YourDictionary. LoveToKnow. www.yourdictionary.com/soap-opera.

APA Style

Soap opera. (n.d.). In YourDictionary. Retrieved from https://www.yourdictionary.com/soap-opera

  • Dictionary
  • Thesaurus
  • Examples
    • See in a sentence
    • Example articles
  • Quotes
    • Famous Quotes
    • Quote Articles
  • Spanish
    • Spanish-English Translation
    • Reference
  • Reference
    • Education
    • ESL
    • Grammar
    • Abbreviations
    • Biography
    • Books & Literature
    • Examples
    • Foreign Languages
    • Resources
    • Slideshows
  • Word Finder
    • 4 Pics 1 Word Answers
    • Anagram Solver
    • Scrabble Dictionary
    • Unscramble
    • Word Cookies Cheat
    • Scrabble Checker
    • Words With Friends Cheat
    • More Games
Share
  • Dictionary
  • Thesaurus
  • Examples
    • See in a sentence
    • Example articles
  • Quotes
    • Famous Quotes
    • Quote Articles
  • Spanish
    • Spanish-English Translation
    • Reference
  • Reference
    • Education
    • ESL
    • Grammar
    • Abbreviations
    • Biography
    • Books & Literature
    • Examples
    • Foreign Languages
    • Resources
    • Slideshows
  • Word Finder
    • 4 Pics 1 Word Answers
    • Anagram Solver
    • Scrabble Dictionary
    • Unscramble
    • Word Cookies Cheat
    • Scrabble Checker
    • Words With Friends Cheat
    • More Games
Share
  • Home
  • Dictionary Definitions
  • soap opera

Also Mentioned In


  • soap-operatic
  • soaplike
  • soapie
  • space-opera
  • docusoap
  • soap-operas
  • soapstar
  • walford
  • radionovela
  • sudser

WORDS NEAR soap opera IN THE DICTIONARY


  • soap-bubbles
  • soap-dish
  • soap-dodger
  • soap-dodgers
  • soap opera
  • soap-operas
  • soap-operatic
  • soap-pad
  • soap plant
  • soap-plant
Word Finder Scrabble® points: 13 More on Word Finder →
Send your feedback to YourDictionary
Get our free Amazon Alexa Skills!

Join YourDictionary today

By continuing, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.

Please set a username for yourself.
People will see it as Author Name with your public flash cards.