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

Granlund scored from the slot in the first period right as a power play ended, extending his scoring streak to six games. — Los Angeles Times, 9 Nov. 2026

Hilda Svensson had a power play goal and an assist for Sweden. — ABC News, 8 Nov. 2026

Harbaugh’s phone call to Titans owner Amy Adams Strunk in pursuit of Jeffery Simmons was more than just a power play by a head coach in charge of his team’s personnel. — Pat Leonard, New York Daily News, 6 Nov. 2026

But of late, the Penguins have been a rather stoppable force while the Kings’ power play has remained an object in motion. — Andrew Knoll, Daily News, 6 Nov. 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