playmaker

noun

play·​mak·​er ˈplā-ˌmā-kər 

: a player who leads the offense for a team (as in basketball or hockey)

playmaking

ˈplā-ˌmā-kiŋ 

noun or adjective

Examples of playmaker in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

This idea that ‘pressing is the best playmaker’ helped Perez lead Rayo into Europe for the first time in 25 years in his first full season as a manager last term. —Dermot Corrigan, New York Times, 9 Nov. 2025

Both teams are playing for a big win, but both will be without multiple key starters and playmakers. —James Brizuela, MSNBC Newsweek, 7 Nov. 2025

There’s a number of refined playmakers on hand led by the French tandem of right wing Delphine Cascarino, who had six assists and five goals, and defensive midfielder Kenza Dali, who put up five goals and three assists. —Tom Krasovic, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 Nov. 2025

If this is the version of Smith that sprays the ball around to his playmakers and threw four touchdowns against the Jaguars last week, the Raiders can hang. —Luca Evans, Denver Post, 5 Nov. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1931, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for playmaker

• blackacre
• caretaker
• clockmaker
• dressmaker
• filmmaker
• homemaker
• icebreaker
• lawmaker
• matchmaker
• pacemaker
• partaker
• peacemaker