synopsis

UK: /sɪˈnɒpsɪs/ US: /sɪˈnɑpsɪs/ ,(si nop′sis)

Inflections of 'synopsis' (n): npl: synopses

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

syn•op•sis /sɪˈnɑpsɪs/   n. [countable] , pl. -ses /-siz/ .

1. a brief statement giving a general view of some longer subject, or a summary of the plot of a novel, play, etc.:
   a synopsis of the plot of a movie.

See syn-, -opti-.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

syn•op•sis  (si nop′sis), n., pl. -ses (-sēz). 

1. a brief or condensed statement giving a general view of some subject.
2. a compendium of heads or short paragraphs giving a view of the whole.
3. Literature, Show Business a brief summary of the plot of a novel, motion picture, play, etc.

• Greek sýnopsis, equivalent. to syn- syn- + op- (suppletive stem of horân to see; compare autopsy) + -sis -sis
• Late Latin
• 1605–15

Synonyms

condensation, epitome, abstract, abridgment, précis. See summary. 

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

synopsis / sɪˈnɒpsɪs/ noun ( -ses / -siːz/)

1. a condensation or brief review of a subject; summary

Etymology: 17th Century: via Late Latin from Greek sunopsis, from syn- + opsis view