synopsis
sih-NOP-sihs
Synopsis (noun) means a short summary that covers the main points of a book, film, or other written work. Example: “The back cover gave a brief synopsis of the plot.”
noun
1
A short summary that covers the main points of a book, film, or other written work.
"The back cover gave a brief synopsis of the plot."
"She wrote a one-page synopsis before pitching the novel to agents."
How to use synopsis
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA quick overview that hits the key points without going into full detail.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
brief synopsis
plot synopsis
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Word forms
- Plural
- synopses
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The back cover gave a brief _____ of the plot.
Etymology
From Ancient Greek sunopsis, "a general view," from syn- ("together, whole") and opsis ("view").
Synonyms
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Frequently asked questions
What does “synopsis” mean?
The word “synopsis” means a short summary that covers the main points of a book, film, or other written work. In plain terms, a quick overview that hits the key points without going into full detail.
How do you pronounce “synopsis”?
“Synopsis” is pronounced sih-NOP-sihs (/sɪˈnɑpsɪs/ in IPA).
How do you use “synopsis” in a sentence?
Here is “synopsis” used in a sentence: “The back cover gave a brief synopsis of the plot.”
What part of speech is “synopsis”?
“Synopsis” is a noun.
Where does the word “synopsis” come from?
The word “synopsis” comes from Ancient Greek. From Ancient Greek sunopsis, "a general view," from syn- ("together, whole") and opsis ("view").
Is “synopsis” a common word?
“Synopsis” is an uncommon word in modern English, usually learned at around the C1 level.
