screenplay

noun

screen·​play ˈskrēn-ˌplā 

: the script and often shooting directions of a story prepared for movie production

Synonyms of screenplay

• script

Examples of screenplay in a Sentence

an award for best screenplay

each actor will be given a copy of the screenplay to study

Recent Examples on the Web

The screenplay was penned by Chris Weitz (About a Boy) and Tony Gilroy (Michael Clayton), based on a story by John Knoll and Gary Whitta. —Wesley Stenzel, Entertainment Weekly, 23 Dec. 2025

According to Sharp, Anderson was squirrelled away on the other side of the Seine, writing a new screenplay, but responding to texted queries and photos, and biking over periodically for brief inspections. —Bruce Handy, New Yorker, 22 Dec. 2025

Might put your own mother asking how that screenplay is coming into a little more perspective. —Literary Hub, 22 Dec. 2025

In the meantime, read the Zootopia 2 screenplay below. —Dessi Gomez, Deadline, 22 Dec. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1920, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for screenplay

• airway
• allay
• archway
• array
• ashtray
• astray
• aue
• away
• ballet
• belay
• beltway
• beret

Kids Definition

screenplay

noun

screen·​play ˈskrēn-ˌplā 

: the written form of a story prepared for film production