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

Based on Cesc Gay’s 2020 Spanish film The People Upstairs, the screenplay for The Invite was adapted by actor-filmmakers Will McCormack and Rashida Jones. — Tim Lammers, Forbes.com, 11 Aug. 2026

The screenplay was penned by Canet and French novelist Maxime Chattam with the collaboration of David Corona, who co-wrote the first movie’s script. — Ellise Shafer, Variety, 10 Aug. 2026

Drawing from deeply personal experiences with Alzheimer’s disease, the film marks Nelson’s first feature and first screenplay, bringing an intimate, deeply human perspective to a story about memory, family and caregiving. — Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 10 Aug. 2026

The creative duo, which previously collaborated on To the Night, co-wrote the screenplay, inspired by true events, and developed it with people without housing. — Georg Szalai, HollywoodReporter, 9 Aug. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1920, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for screenplay

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

Kids Definition

screenplay

noun

screen·​play ˈskrēn-ˌplā 

: the written form of a story prepared for film production