What is a Soap opera

soap opera n. 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.

soap opera n (Communication Arts / Broadcasting) a serialized drama, usually dealing with domestic themes and characterized by sentimentality, broadcast on radio or television

soap′ op`er•a (ˈɒp ər ə, ˈɒp rə) n. a radio or television series depicting the interconnected lives of many characters often in a sentimental, melodramatic way.

soap opera - Goes back (1939) to the early days of radio suspense serials, which were mainly sponsored by soap-makers; the "opera" part is an echo of the earlier "horse opera"—a Western (1927).

soap opera - a serialized program usually dealing with sentimentalized family matters that is broadcast on radio or television (frequently sponsored by a company advertising soap products)