Storyline

/ˈstɔrɪlaɪn/ noun

Definition

The main plot or sequence of events in a story, movie, book, or game.

Etymology

A modern compound word combining 'story' (from Old French 'historie') and 'line' (from Latin 'linea'). This compound is relatively recent, becoming common in the 20th century as film and television needed language to describe narrative structure.

Kelly Says

Before the word 'storyline' became popular, people just said 'plot'—but TV shows in the 1960s needed a term that could describe multiple interwoven narratives happening at once, so 'storyline' was perfect for shows with ensemble casts like *The Brady Bunch*.

Related Words

Explore More Words

Get the Word Orb API

Complete word intelligence in one call. Free tier — 50 lookups/day.