Phrase guide

plot twist

noun · 1 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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1

noun

Meaning 1

A change in the direction or expected outcome of the plot of a film, novel, or other narrative work.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

No etymology was provided for this word.

Across languages

Translations

27 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Chinese Mandarin: 劇情轉彎 /剧情转弯 (jùqíng zhuǎnwān) — change in the direction or expected outcome of the plot
  • Dutch: plotwending — change in the direction or expected outcome of the plot
  • Dutch: plottwist — change in the direction or expected outcome of the plot
  • Dutch: verwikkeling — change in the direction or expected outcome of the plot
  • Dutch: intrige — change in the direction or expected outcome of the plot
  • Estonian: sisupööre — change in the direction or expected outcome of the plot
  • Finnish: juonenkäänne — change in the direction or expected outcome of the plot
  • French: rebondissement — change in the direction or expected outcome of the plot
  • French: coup de théâtre — change in the direction or expected outcome of the plot
  • French: retournement de situation — change in the direction or expected outcome of the plot
  • German: unerwartete Wendung — change in the direction or expected outcome of the plot
  • German: überraschende Wendung der Handlung — change in the direction or expected outcome of the plot
  • German: Plottorsion — change in the direction or expected outcome of the plot
  • German: Plottwist — change in the direction or expected outcome of the plot
  • Greek: συστροφή πλοκών (systrofí plokón) — change in the direction or expected outcome of the plot
  • Italian: colpo di scena — change in the direction or expected outcome of the plot
  • Japanese: プロットの再方向付け (purotto no sai-hōkōzuke) — change in the direction or expected outcome of the plot
  • Japanese: プロットの捻れ (purotto no nejire) — change in the direction or expected outcome of the plot
  • Korean: 작의 강선전도 (jagui gangseonjeondo) — change in the direction or expected outcome of the plot
  • Polish: zwrot akcji — change in the direction or expected outcome of the plot
  • Portuguese: reviravolta — change in the direction or expected outcome of the plot
  • Portuguese: plot twist — change in the direction or expected outcome of the plot
  • Russian: поворо́т сюже́та (povorót sjužéta) — change in the direction or expected outcome of the plot
  • Spanish: cambio de dirección del diagrama — change in the direction or expected outcome of the plot
  • Spanish: giro — change in the direction or expected outcome of the plot
  • Ukrainian: поворо́т сюже́ту (povorót sjužétu) — change in the direction or expected outcome of the plot
  • Ukrainian: сюже́тний поворо́т (sjužétnyj povorót) — change in the direction or expected outcome of the plot