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

The Panthers did generate 11 shots on goal while playing up an attacker, 10 of which came on the three power plays in the third period. — Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 11 Oct. 2026

The Panthers were 0 for 5 on the power play and are now 1 for 28 on the man advantage to start the season. — ABC News, 10 Oct. 2026

Nick Schmaltz scored his NHL-best fifth goal of the season, and the Utah Mammoth relied on their proficient power play to beat the New Jersey Devils 5-3 on Tuesday night. — CBS News, 7 Oct. 2026

Gauthier scored from the slot on a power play early in the second off Sennecke’s setup. — Los Angeles Times, 5 Oct. 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