playing field

noun

Updated on: 14 Apr 2018

Definition of playing field

1 : a field for various games; especially : the part of a field officially marked off for play

2 : a set of conditions for competition —usually used in such phrases as a level playing field

See playing field defined for English-language learners

See playing field defined for kids

Recent Examples of playing field from the Web

Cities across the country have passed laws banning companies from asking prospective employees their salary histories — a move equal pay advocates say will help end the perpetuation of the gender wage gap and create a more even playing field.

— jennifer calfas, Time, "10 Powerful Women on How #MeToo Has Changed the Fight for Equal Pay," 10 Apr. 2018
Tariffs are one strategy for leveling that playing field.

— jamie ducharme, Fortune, "Trump's Tariffs Against China Are Sparking Fears of a Trade War. Here's Why You Should Care," 6 Apr. 2018
Those submissions typically begin with a sentence or two about unfairness to employers and a playing field slanted in unions’ favor.

— Bloomberg.com, "The Newest Weapons Against Unions Are Employees," 2 Apr. 2018
Payton played field hockey for four years at Concord-Carlisle, but always concentrated on lacrosse.

— nate weitzer, BostonGlobe.com, "Concord-Carlisle girls’ lacrosse may be championship bound," 30 Mar. 2018
What those changes mean is a) a broader playing field on which the fight for House control will be fought and b) far more Republican vulnerabilities than Democratic ones on that playing field.

— chris cillizza, CNN, "The House playing field just keeps tipping toward Democrats," 16 Mar. 2018
Party leader Timken campaigned for the post last January on the promise of maintaining an even playing field for Republican candidates.

— jessie balmert, Cincinnati.com, "Ohio governor's race: Republicans endorse Mike DeWine as Mary Taylor throws bombs," 9 Feb. 2018
Might a lucrative opportunity to jump from the playing field immediately to the broadcast booth, like best friend and former Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo did last season, change his mind?

— clarence e. hill jr., star-telegram, "Might Cowboys TE Jason Witten retire now and follow Tony Romo from the field to TV? | Fort Worth Star-Telegram," 12 Mar. 2018
The Maldives archipelago, popular among luxury honeymooners, has become a playing field for geostrategic rivalry as China expands its influence in the Indian Ocean and the U.S. and India push back.

— niharika mandhana, WSJ, "Trouble in Paradise: China-India Rivalry Plays Out in Maldives," 6 Mar. 2018

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

First Known Use of playing field

circa 1584

PLAYING FIELD Defined for English Language Learners

playing field

noun

Definition of playing field for English Language Learners

: an area that is used for playing some sports; especially : the part of a field that is officially marked as the place where the action of a game happens