scenario

IPA/səˈnɑːriəʊ/
KK[sɪnˈɛrio]IPA/səˈnæriəʊ/

scenario — noun

  • scenariosingular
  • scenariosplural

1. An imagined sequence of future events, created to help people plan or prepare fo

1.nounB1
Definition

An imagined sequence of future events, created to help people plan or prepare for different possible outcomes.

Example

Ari's team described several possible scenarios for how the climate might change.

In the worst-case scenario, the factory would close and all workers would lose their jobs.

collocation: worst-case scenario

Common collocations
  • worst-case scenario
  • best-case scenario
  • possible scenario
  • scenario planning
  • work through a scenario
  • doomsday scenario
Synonyms
  • possibility

    less structured — a possibility is a single option, while a scenario includes a sequence of events

  • situation

    broader — refers to present conditions rather than imagined future events

  • outlook

    more about prediction — an outlook is a forecast, while a scenario is one of several possible paths

Antonyms
  • fact

    a scenario is imagined or projected; a fact is something that has actually happened

Usage Note

Frequently modified by a preceding adjective that describes the nature of the future (worst-case, best-case, likely, possible, doomsday). The compound noun 'scenario planning' is also common in business and policy contexts.

Common Mistakes

In the worse scenario, the company went bankrupt.
In the worst-case scenario, the company went bankrupt.
'worst-case scenario' is a fixed collocation where 'worst-case' acts as a compound adjective, not a comparative form.

2. A document that describes the order of events in a film, play, or television sho

2.nounB2
Definition

A document that describes the order of events in a film, play, or television show, telling what happens to the characters scene by scene.

Example

Manuela wrote the opening scene after the director approved the scenario.

The film's scenario was changed several times before the actors began rehearsals.

passive: scenario was changed

Common collocations
  • original scenario
  • film scenario
  • write a scenario
  • change the scenario
  • full scenario of the play
Synonyms
  • outline

    broader — can describe any text or plan, not specific to film or theatre

  • synopsis

    more focused on summarising the plot rather than structuring a production

  • screenplay

    more detailed — includes full dialogue and camera directions

Usage Note

Distinguish from 'script': a scenario outlines the main events and plot structure without full dialogue, while a script contains every character's exact words.

Common Mistakes

The actors memorized every line from the scenario.
The actors memorized every line from the script.
A scenario is an outline of events, not a full dialogue script.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

All four words refer to thinking about future events, but they differ in structure and intent. A scenario is a detailed, multi-step description of how events could unfold, often used in planning to compare different paths. A possibility is simply something that could happen — it names a single outcome without describing how it comes about. An outlook is a general forecast or prediction of what is likely to happen, typically based on current trends. A projection is a calculated estimate, often using data or statistics, showing a specific result if certain conditions hold. For example, you could say: 'The economic projection shows 2% growth, but one scenario involves a recession if oil prices rise sharply. Another possibility is that inflation stays stable, leading to a more positive outlook.'

scenario ↗possibility ↗outlook ↗projection ↗

Common collocations

Phrases

  • describe a scenario
  • develop a scenario

Prepositions

  • in a scenario

Etymology

LatinItalianEnglish

From Italian scenario, from Late Latin scenarium (stage), from Latin scaena (stage, scene). The word originally referred to the written outline of a theatrical performance — the 'scene-by-scene' plan. In the 20th century, military and business planners extended the meaning to describe possible future sequences of events, treating each 'scene' as a stage in a hypothetical timeline.