sce ‧ na ‧ ri ‧ o AC /səˈnɑːriəʊ, sɪˈnɑːriəʊ $ -ˈnærioʊ, -ˈne-/ BrE AmE noun ( plural scenarios ) [countable]
[ Date: 1800-1900 ; Language: Italian ; Origin: Latin scaenarium , from scaena ; ⇨ ↑ scene ]
1 . a situation that could possibly happen:
Imagine a scenario where only 20% of people have a job.
possible/likely/plausible scenario
Under a likely scenario, world population will double by 2050.
a possible scenario
worst-case/nightmare scenario (=the worst possible situation)
The worst-case scenario was that he would have to have an operation.
2 . technical a written description of the characters, place, and things that will happen in a film, play etc
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COLLOCATIONS
■ ADJECTIVES/NOUN + scenario
▪ a possible scenario
Defence planners are paid to consider every possible scenario.
▪ a likely/plausible scenario
The more likely scenario is that support for the group will wane.
▪ an unlikely scenario
I might get the job, but it is an unlikely scenario.
▪ the worst-case/worst scenario (=the worst thing that might happen)
The worst-case scenario is that it is already too late to do anything about global warming.
▪ a nightmare scenario (=a very bad thing that might happen)
The nightmare scenario would be a number of simultaneous terrorist attacks.
▪ a doomsday scenario (=a great disaster that might happen)
A year ago, few people were talking about such a doomsday scenario.
■ verbs
▪ imagine a scenario
It is difficult to imagine a scenario in which the company will give this information freely.
▪ consider a scenario (=think about what might happen)
The government has considered various possible scenarios.