playing field
noun
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
Examples of playing field in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The magistrate presided over a mandatory settlement conference in February that went nowhere, but the judge’s recent ruling may have altered the playing field.
—
Gene Maddaus, Variety, 4 Apr. 2026
Bernthal may have started as Moss-Bachrach's unknown understudy, but now, the playing fields are level — and it's certainly not lost on either star that reaching such a milestone in one's career with one of their closest friends is something to be treasured.
—Rebecca Aizin, PEOPLE, 1 Apr. 2026
His dramas set domestic conflicts against the backdrop of societal systems that insidiously warp the playing field for their characters.
—Theater Critic, Los Angeles Times, 1 Apr. 2026
Regulatory changes offering tailwinds Over the medium term, regulatory changes could also further tilt the playing field.
—Lee Ying Shan, CNBC, 27 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for playing field
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.
Gene Maddaus, Variety, 4 Apr. 2026
Bernthal may have started as Moss-Bachrach's unknown understudy, but now, the playing fields are level — and it's certainly not lost on either star that reaching such a milestone in one's career with one of their closest friends is something to be treasured.
—Rebecca Aizin, PEOPLE, 1 Apr. 2026
His dramas set domestic conflicts against the backdrop of societal systems that insidiously warp the playing field for their characters.
—Theater Critic, Los Angeles Times, 1 Apr. 2026
Regulatory changes offering tailwinds Over the medium term, regulatory changes could also further tilt the playing field.
—Lee Ying Shan, CNBC, 27 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for playing field
Cite this Entry
“Playing field.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/playing%20field. Accessed 14 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
