synopsis

noun

syn·​op·​sis sə-ˈnäp-səs 

plural synopses sə-ˈnäp-ˌsēz 

1

: a condensed statement or outline (as of a narrative or treatise) : abstract

2

: the abbreviated conjugation of a verb in one person only

Synonyms

• abstract
• breviary
• brief
• capsule
• conspectus
• digest
• encapsulation
• epitome
• inventory
• outline
• précis
• recap
• recapitulation
• résumé
• resume
• resumé
• roundup
• run-through
• rundown
• sum
• sum-up
• summa
• summarization
• summary
• summing-up
• wrap-up

Examples of synopsis in a Sentence

I don't need to know every little plot twist; just give me a synopsis of the movie.

Recent Examples on the Web

According to the synopsis, the series is set in a fading country town, which fiunds itself under siege by an army of murderous garden gnomes on the eve of a Gnome-a-Palooza festival. —Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 17 Feb. 2025

Further synopsis of the film reads: Cat finds refuge on a boat populated by various species and will have to team up with them despite their differences. —Josh Hammer, Newsweek, 17 Feb. 2025

While Netflix has yet to release an official trailer or synopsis for the final installment, the creators and cast have opened up about how grand and emotional the remaining episodes will be. —Stacy Lambe, People.com, 15 Feb. 2025

The title and synopsis of Mexican director, screenwriter and editor Ernesto Martínez Bucio‘s feature directorial debut sure sound ominous. —Georg Szalai, The Hollywood Reporter, 15 Feb. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Late Latin, from Greek, literally, comprehensive view, from synopsesthai to be going to see together, from syn- + opsesthai to be going to see — more at optic

First Known Use

1603, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

synopsis

noun

syn·​op·​sis sə-ˈnäp-səs 

plural synopses -ˈnäp-ˌsēz 

: a brief statement or outline (as of a story)