playbook

noun

play·​book ˈplā-ˌbu̇k How to pronounce playbook (audio)
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

Examples of playbook in a Sentence

He studied the new plays in the team's playbook.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Amid the disorder, the regime turned to a familiar playbook of crushing dissent. Mitchell McCluskey, CNN Money, 12 Jan. 2026 Shanahan reaches deep into the playbook The 49ers seemed dead in the water after losing George Kittle to an Achilles injury in the first half. Chris Biderman, Sacbee.com, 12 Jan. 2026 It’s been nice to bounce my old playbook off him and compare it to this new one. Jerry McDonald, Mercury News, 12 Jan. 2026 The Justice Department has a playbook ready for responding to emergencies like the one unfolding in Minneapolis, including containing unrest and defusing community anger or distrust in law enforcement. Scott MacFarlane, CBS News, 11 Jan. 2026 See All Example Sentences for playbook

Word History

First Known Use

1511, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of playbook was in 1511

Cite this Entry

“Playbook.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/playbook. Accessed 13 Jan. 2026.

More from Merriam-Webster on playbook

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!