playing field

noun

|Updated on: 17 Aug 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

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See playing field defined for kids

Recent Examples of playing field from the Web

To me, golf means there is more of an even playing field and offers a chance to connect with people, colleagues and bosses outside the office.

— kpmg, USA TODAY, "Empowering the next wave female leaders," 29 June 2018
Chandler, who has dwarfism, also played field hockey this past fall.

— BostonGlobe.com, "2017-17 Para Athlete All-Scholastics," 29 June 2018
LeRose, who also plays field hockey, has taken nine AP courses coupled with multiple honors courses and three college math classes.

— p.k. daniel, sandiegouniontribune.com, "Union-Tribune Academic Athletes of the Year," 7 June 2018
So regulations are going to be needed to be create an even playing field for all the manufacturers.

— fredrick kunkle, chicagotribune.com, "How to reduce distracted driving in same way as drunk driving? Shame," 8 May 2017
In principle, the tournament is an even playing field, where nations—irrespective of population, GDP, history, life expectancy, military budget, trade surplus, space program, film industry, and so on—are reduced to 11 men on the pitch.

— kanishk tharoor, The Atlantic, "The Elusive Underdog Magic of the World Cup," 14 July 2018
Such are the risks of the new media playing field, which may look level from afar, but still tilts toward the powerful.

— joe coscarelli, New York Times, "How One Tweet About Nicki Minaj Spiraled Into Internet Chaos," 10 July 2018
Democrats hope the new map, drawn by the justices and meant to provide an even playing field, will allow them to pick up several seats in the U.S. House.

— thomas fitzgerald, Philly.com, "Pa. primary election 2018: Voters guide," 11 May 2018
From my perspective the biggest challenge our leaders face is leveling the playing field between rural and urban communities.

— charlotteobserver, "Ashley Christensen," 3 July 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

in the meaning defined at sense 1

See Words from the same year

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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