playbook

noun play·book \ ˈplā-ˌbu̇k \

Updated on: 23 May 2018

Definition of playbook

1 : one or more plays in book form

2 : a notebook containing diagrammed football plays

3 : a stock of usual tactics or methods

straight from his opponent's political playbook

See playbook defined for English-language learners

Examples of playbook in a Sentence

He studied the new plays in the team's playbook.

Recent Examples of playbook from the Web

Meghan Markle took a page out of her new sister-in-law's playbook and debuted a second bridal ensemble on her way to the more intimate gathering to celebrate her wedding to Prince Harry at Frogmore House this evening.

— stacey leasca, Glamour, "Meghan Markle's Reception Dress Is a Stunning Stella McCartney Creation," 19 May 2018
Once Burrow sat down with LSU coach Ed Orgeron and new offensive coordinator Steve Ensminger last weekend during he and his parents visit to Baton Rouge, a two-hour meeting diving into the playbook turned into four hours.

— ron higgins, NOLA.com, "New LSU QB Joe Burrow gives the Tigers hope, nothing more and nothing less," 19 May 2018
The president didn’t go off script; in fact, this is in line with the Trump playbook.

— stephen a. crockett jr., The Root, "Trump Called Undocumented Immigrants ‘Animals,’ and That’s Exactly What He Meant," 17 May 2018
The majority of the offensive and defensive playbooks were installed previously, and a second installation period began on Tuesday.

— kent somers, azcentral, "Cardinals' David Johnson likes the idea of running behind a fullback," 15 May 2018
The guys continue their exploratory waltz through music history on Tranquility Base Hotel & Casino, this time dipping into the ELO and Supertramp playbook to make some gorgeous (and some meandering) pop hits.

— refinery29.com, "New Music To Know This Week: Arctic Monkeys, Towkio With SZA, & The Beths," 11 May 2018
For now, Ejiofor is focused on the preparation of absorbing an NFL playbook and getting healthy.

— aaron wilson, Houston Chronicle, "Texans rookie Duke Ejiofor remaining patient," 11 May 2018
That may mean changing the normal playbook of forcing a nominee to keep quiet in public, especially since the public has never heard from Ms. Haspel directly.

— the editorial board, WSJ, "Gina Haspel’s CIA Crucible," 4 May 2018
The recipes in Zorba the Buddha may have the sannyasin pedigree, but many of them are straight out of the 1970s vegetarian playbook espoused by Frances Moore Lappé in Diet for a Small Planet.

— melissa locker, Bon Appetit, "Watching ‘Wild, Wild Country’? Then You Need to See The Rajneesh Cookbook," 4 May 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'playbook.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

First Known Use of playbook

1511

in the meaning defined at sense 1

See Words from the same year

NEW! Time Traveler

Other Field and Goal Sports Terms

crease, lateral, lax, overthrow, post, screen, scrum, secondary, ultimate

PLAYBOOK Defined for English Language Learners

playbook

noun

Definition of playbook for English Language Learners

American football : a book that contains descriptions of the different offensive and defensive plays that are used by a team

Learn More about playbook

See words that rhyme with playbook Nglish: Translation of playbook for Spanish speakers

Seen and Heard

What made you want to look up playbook? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

show

playbook

Definition of playbook

Examples of playbook in a Sentence

Recent Examples of playbook from the Web

First Known Use of playbook

Other Field and Goal Sports Terms

PLAYBOOK Defined for English Language Learners

playbook

Definition of playbook for English Language Learners

Learn More about playbook

Seen and Heard

WORD OF THE DAY

petard

BROWSE DICTIONARY

Test Your Vocabulary

Words at Play

12 Words from All Over the Map

'Ingenious' and 'Ingenuous': More Than a Typo

A Matter-of-Fact Look at 'Deadpan'

9 Words from the Magical Realm

Ask the Editors

Ghost Word

2017 Word of the Year: Behind the Scenes

Literally

Is Singular 'They' a Better Choice?

Word Games

May 2018 Words of the Day Quiz

Words Used by Nabokov Quiz

Name That Thing

Word Winder's CrossWinder

May 2018 Words of the Day Quiz

12 Words from All Over the Map

'Ingenious' and 'Ingenuous': More Than a Typo

Trending: Melania Trump Undergoes 'Embolization'

Ghost Word

playbook

Definition of playbook

Examples of playbook in a Sentence

Recent Examples of playbook from the Web

First Known Use of playbook

Other Field and Goal Sports Terms

PLAYBOOK Defined for English Language Learners

playbook

Definition of playbook for English Language Learners

Learn More about playbook

Seen and Heard

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Words at Play

Ask the Editors

Word Games

May 2018 Words of the Day Quiz

12 Words from All Over the Map

'Ingenious' and 'Ingenuous': More Than a Typo

Trending: Melania Trump Undergoes 'Embolization'

Ghost Word