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 Oscar-winning actress was speaking at the Venice Film Festival press conference for Andrea Pallaoro’s Golden Lion contender The Echo Chamber, an adaptation of Bernardo Bertolucci’s final screenplay. — Nada Aboul Kheir, Deadline, 6 Sep. 2026

Sarandon stars in the romantic drama, which was Bernardo Bertolucci’s final screenplay, alongside Luca Marinelli and Alicia Vikander. — Ellise Shafer, Variety, 6 Sep. 2026

The plot is a movie within a movie, the story paralleling multiple screenplay drafts of the new Stab 3 — the slasher series within the Scream universe based on its real-life events. — Michael Lee Simpson, Entertainment Weekly, 5 Sep. 2026

Stone, working from a screenplay by Stephen Beresford (himself a playwright), does not follow his protagonist’s lead. — Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 5 Sep. 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