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

The trope of the toxic drama teacher rears its head: David and Sarah’s enigmatic acting teacher, Mr. Kingsley, manipulates their emotions and desires in the name of art. —Tajja Isen, The Atlantic, 11 Dec. 2024

To promote more diverse and nuanced depictions of Jewish Americans, the study recommended elevating Jewish characters whose stories often remain untold; being mindful of tropes that associate Jews with money or power; and giving voice to Jewish pride and joy. —Seth Abramovitch, The Hollywood Reporter, 10 Dec. 2024

For every scrap of unique texture, there’s a reminder that A Complete Unknown is content to indulge in the most shopworn tropes of musical biopics. —Madison Bloom, Pitchfork, 10 Dec. 2024

So there’s an established trope of the femme fatale Russian female agent. —Erin Douglass, The Christian Science Monitor, 5 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