Definition

A single recurring theme, plot device, character type, or narrative convention found across multiple stories. Examples include the 'chosen one,' 'love triangle,' or 'slow burn.'

Example Usage

The anti-hero is a popular trope in modern television drama.

Origin

From Greek 'tropos' meaning 'turn' or 'way'; used in rhetoric and literature criticism for centuries.

Fun Fact

Some tropes become so recognizable they develop fan names and subcategories, creating a lexicon unique to fandoms.

Source: Definition backfill (hailey)