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 Issues the Major League Players Association will be interested in the quality of the playing field with two teams as well as the size of the clubhouse and other facilities. Jerry McDonald, The Mercury News, 4 Apr. 2024 While the onus is surely not on any one woman to single-handedly upend a generations-long gap between work output and fair compensation, there are some ways of evening the playing field. Jane Thier, Fortune, 26 Mar. 2024 But in the background, global economic integration was transforming the playing field. Jami Miscik, Foreign Affairs, 11 Mar. 2024 For example, at Harvard, legacy preferences tilt the playing field in favor of white students — 76% of legacy applicants and 77% of legacy admits at Harvard were white. Michael T. Nietzel, Forbes, 29 Feb. 2024 In addition, using systems and processes to remove subjectivity can help create a more equal playing field for women. Katy McFee, Forbes, 27 Mar. 2024 But now, with home price growth leveling off, the playing field is leveling out too, putting more buyers in the driver’s seat, experts say. Rob Wile, NBC News, 24 Mar. 2024 And that, of course, has gotten even crazier now that the streaming playing field is a little bit leveling. Georg Szalai, The Hollywood Reporter, 20 Mar. 2024 Another playing field Despite the leg up his father got from affirmative action in the 1970s, his career was quickly eclipsed by Weber’s. Jessica Guynn, USA TODAY, 6 Mar. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'playing field.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1584, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of playing field was circa 1584

Dictionary Entries Near playing field

Cite this Entry

“Playing field.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/playing%20field. Accessed 16 Apr. 2024.

Kids Definition

playing field

noun
: a field for various games
especially : the part of a field marked off for play
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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