trope

1 of 2

noun

ˈtrōp 

1

a

: a word or expression used in a figurative sense : figure of speech

b

: 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

-trope

2 of 2

noun combining form

: body characterized by (such) a state

allotrope

Synonyms

Noun

• banality
• bromide
• chestnut
• cliché
• cliche
• commonplace
• groaner
• homily
• platitude
• shibboleth
• truism

Examples of trope in a Sentence

Noun

a screenplay that reads like a catalog of mystery-thriller tropes

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

In fact, literary historians believe the canonical Dracula borrowed or plagiarized tropes from the novella as source material. —Sally Tamarkin, Them, 23 Dec. 2024

Plot-wise, there are elements of E.T. and Pixar's Wall-E here, but Sanders has created a unique take on those tropes and standout characters that are all his own. —Ars Technica, 23 Dec. 2024

Lee Cronin is writing and directing a new take on the horror trope revolving around the ancient mummified undead for New Line, The Hollywood Reporter can reveal. —Borys Kit, The Hollywood Reporter, 20 Dec. 2024

The Santa Stakeout Putting a unique spin on the Hallmark holiday romance trope, two police detectives (Tamera Mowry-Housely and Paul Campbell) pose as newlyweds to attempt to solve a string of robberies — which have been taking place at Christmas parties. —Gord Magill, Newsweek, 20 Dec. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Noun

borrowed from Latin tropus "figure of speech" (Medieval Latin, "embellishment to the sung parts of the Mass"), borrowed from Greek trópos "turn, way, manner, style, figurative expression," noun derivative from the base of trépein "to turn," probably going back to Indo-European *trep-, whence also Sanskrit trapate "(s/he) is ashamed, becomes perplexed," Hittite te-ri-ip-zi "(s/he) ploughs"

Note: Also compared is Latin trepit, glossed as vertit "(s/he) turns," but as this form is only attested in the lexicon of the grammarian Sextus Pompeius Festus, it may be a reconstruction based on the Greek word. The word tropes (genitive case) in the Old English translation of Bede's Ecclesiastical History is an isolated instance; the word was reborrowed from Latin or Greek in the 16th century.

Noun combining form

borrowed from Greek -tropos "turned, directed, living (in the manner indicated)," adjective derivative of trópos "turn, way, manner, style" — more at trope

First Known Use

Noun

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a