power play

noun

1

: a military, diplomatic, political, or administrative maneuver in which power is brought to bear

2

a

: a concentrated attack in football in which the ballcarrier is preceded by a mass of blockers

b

: a situation in ice hockey in which one team temporarily has more players on the ice than the other team because of a penalty

Examples of power play in a Sentence

They scored their first goal on a power play.

He made a power play to seize control of the company.

Recent Examples on the Web

Raddysh obviously made an impact on the power play with his explosive shot. — Shayna Goldman, New York Times, 2 July 2026

Our other data center power play is GE Vernova , which makes natural gas turbines that can be used to generate off-grid energy. — Morgan Chittum, CNBC, 1 July 2026

His quick snap shot from the bumper became a specialty and made the B’s power play a monster, especially when Brad Marchand and David Pastrnak were on his flanks. — Steve Conroy, Boston Herald, 23 June 2026

Over the course of nine seasons, the series follows the lawyers at the premier New York City corporate law firm Pearson Hardman, chronicling their court cases, love lives, and power plays. — Chris Snellgrove, Entertainment Weekly, 23 June 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1947, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for power play

• aaa
• alleyway
• alumnae
• anime
• anyway
• arete
• attache
• axillae
• baa
• beaujolais
• bouvier
• breakaway