plotline

plural plotlines · alternative plot line

1. The basic plot of a story or group of stories.
2. A group of stories sharing a plot.

   Advocacy groups have long known the power of TV plot lines. Back in the 1980s, the Harvard School of Public Health mounted a campaign to normalize the idea of a “designated driver” to reduce drunk driving.

   2014 March 27, Robin Marantz Henig, “Fictional Plotlines and Real Assisted Suicide”, in The Atlantic, archived from the original on 01 Jun 2014

   1 more example

   Even at time of writing, it is not remotely clear what has or hasn’t been happening – whether a smaller private wedding had taken place in advance and this was all a post-hoc celebration, whether the size of the venue meant some superfans would be admitted for a glimpse, whether – and this is a big plotline – heavily oxidised former BFF Blake Lively would be a bridesmaid, or even attending at all.

   2026 July 3, Marina Hyde, “The US turns 250 and Taylor Swift gets married. I think we all know which is a bigger deal”, in The Guardian, →ISSN, archived from the original on 03 Jul 2026