radio drama

UK/ˈɹeɪdiˌəʊ dɹɑːmə/US/ˈɹeɪdiˌoʊ dɹɑmə/

noun

A dramatized, purely acoustic performance, broadcast on radio or published on audio media, such as tape or CD.

Similar
audio playaudio theaterdramatized audiobookradio playradio theaterradio theatreaudio drama

Meanings

nounradio drama (usually uncountable, plural radio dramas)

plural radio dramas

  1. uncountableusuallyA dramatized, purely acoustic performance, broadcast on radio or published on audio media, such as tape or CD.

    Radio dramas in America are online.

    2005 January 25, Ken from Chicago <kwicker1b_nospam@comcast.net>, “Re: For THIS they cancelled Angel?”, in alt.tv.angel (Usenet), message-ID <P5WdnedA5a7GomvcRVn-rw@comcast.com>
    4 more examples

    STREAMING AUDIO & VIDEO: Including our live "Seeing Ear Theatre" radio drama staring Walter Koenig, classic SF & horror movies, Orson Welles' WAR OF THE WORLDS broadcast, episodes of MYSTERY SCIENCE THEATER 3000, Alien Voices, readings by Greg Bear, Sam Delany, Bruce Sterling & K.W. Jeter, cartoons, classic trailers & more!

    1992 October 28, The Dominion Feedback <feedback@www.scifi.com>, “Third Annual Online SF Con - Oct. 30 thru Nov. 1”, in rec.arts.sf.announce (Usenet), message-ID <Pine.GSO.4.05.9810271903200.2195-100000@icarus.usanetworks.com>

    Before the advent of television, radio drama had a huge popular audience and dominated much of the broadcast schedule.

    2002, L. A. Heberlein, The Rough Guide to Internet Radio, →ISBN, page 299

    Whether you want to create a simple one-person podcast or a multi segment radio drama, you'll find all the user-friendly tips, tools and tricks you need to get the perfect sound and reach your audience.

    2005, Jack D. Herrington, Podcasting hacks, →ISBN, page Back Cover

    In a radio drama version, she and Rhys this week reprise their roles for LA Theatre Works.

    2010 December 8, Steve Julian, “LA Theatre Works reprises 'The Graduate' as radio drama, with Kathleen Turner”, in KPCC

    Synonyms: audio play, audio theater, dramatized audiobook, radio play, radio theater

Synonyms & antonyms

nounA dramatized, purely acoustic performance, broadcast on radio or published on audio media, such as tape or CD.

Similar
audio playaudio theaterdramatized audiobookradio playradio theater

More synonyms by meaning

nouna dramatized, purely acoustic performance, broadcast on radio or published on audio media, such as tape or CD.

Similar
radio theatreradio theateraudio drama
Broader
dramatic compositiondramatic work
Also see

Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.

Translations

Chinese Mandarin 廣播劇 /广播剧, 播音劇 /播音剧
  • 廣播劇 /广播剧 (guǎngbōjù)acoustic performance
  • 播音劇 /播音剧 (bōyīnjù)acoustic performance
Dutch hoorspel, luisterspel
  • hoorspelacoustic performance
  • luisterspelacoustic performance
  • radiodramaacoustic performance
Finnish kuunnelma
  • kuunnelmaacoustic performance
French radioroman, radiothéâtre
  • radioromanacoustic performance
  • radiothéâtreacoustic performance
  • théâtre radiophoniqueacoustic performance
German Hörspiel
  • Hörspielacoustic performance
Hungarian rádiójáték, hangjáték
  • rádiójátékacoustic performance
  • hangjátékacoustic performance
Italian radiodramma, radiodrammaturgia
  • radiodrammaacoustic performance
  • radiodrammaturgiaacoustic performance
Japanese ラジオドラマ
  • ラジオドラマ (rajio dorama)acoustic performance
Korean 라디오 드라마
  • 라디오 드라마acoustic performance
Norwegian hørespill
  • hørespillacoustic performance
Polish słuchowisko, radiosłuchowisko
  • słuchowiskoacoustic performance
  • radiosłuchowiskoacoustic performance
  • dźwiękowiskoacoustic performance
Portuguese radionovela
  • radionovelaacoustic performance
Russian радиопостано́вка
  • радиопостано́вка (radiopostanóvka)acoustic performance
Spanish audiodrama, radiodrama
  • audiodramaacoustic performance
  • radiodramaacoustic performance
  • radioteatroacoustic performance
  • radionovelaacoustic performance
Swedish radioteater
  • radioteateracoustic performance
Turkish radyo tiyatrosu
  • radyo tiyatrosuacoustic performance
Cite this entry
APA

radio drama. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/radio%20drama

MLA

“radio drama.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/radio%20drama. Accessed November 5, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “radio drama,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/radio%20drama.

Source: radio drama on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.