space opera
Word Rarity
Uncommon
Frequency: Zipf frequency 4.23 in modern English
16
Scrabble Score
10
Letters
2
Syllables
7
Unique Chars
Meaning
noun
A subgenre of speculative fiction or science fiction that emphasizes space travel, romantic adventure, and larger-than-life characters often set against vast exotic settings.
Countable; Uncountable
noun
A subgenre of speculative fiction or science fiction that uses serialization.
Countable; Uncountable
Example Sentences
- "SUGGESTION DEPT: In these hectic days of phrase-coining, we offer one. Westerns are called "horse operas", the morning housewife tear-jerkers are called "soap operas". For the hacky, grinding, stinking, outworn space-ship yarn, or world-saving for that matter, we offer "space opera""
- "A new Netflix TV series of Star Trek has been rumoured. And Christopher Nolan is sending Matthew McConaughey through a wormhole in his new film, Interstellar. Could the space opera be making a comeback?"
Etymology
Coined by American writer Wilson Tucker in 1941, modelled on horse opera (“western”) and soap opera, see quotations. Originally describing a specific, hackneyed science fiction writing style.