power play

noun

1

: a military, diplomatic, political, or administrative maneuver in which power is brought to bear

2

a

: a concentrated attack in football in which the ballcarrier is preceded by a mass of blockers

b

: a situation in ice hockey in which one team temporarily has more players on the ice than the other team because of a penalty

Examples of power play in a Sentence

They scored their first goal on a power play.

He made a power play to seize control of the company.

Recent Examples on the Web

With Wallstedt on the bench and the Wild on a power play, Zuccarello scored on a wrister to pull Minnesota back within two in the final minutes. —Jess Myers, Twin Cities, 7 Dec. 2025

Chicago avoided a second straight shutout with Bertuzzi's goal on a power play moments later. —CBS News, 7 Dec. 2025

San Jose also had chances to score in the third, but failed to capitalize on two power plays in the final 20 minutes. —Curtis Pashelka, Mercury News, 6 Dec. 2025

That adjustment includes the power play, where the Leafs continue to struggle to find a suitable stand-in for Marner as quarterback of a five-forward first unit. —Jonas Siegel, New York Times, 2 Dec. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1947, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for power play

• aaa
• adonais
• alleyway
• alumnae
• anime
• anyway
• arete
• attache
• baa
• beaujolais
• bouvier
• breakaway