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 Orizzonti jury will award the best film, best director, jury prize, best actor, best actress, and best screenplay honors for films screening in Venice’s main sidebar, as well as the best short film honor. — Scott Roxborough, HollywoodReporter, 13 July 2026

That’s the loophole here for the original 1984 Freddy Krueger screenplay heading to Paramount, with the Craven estate obtaining the rights again in 2019 with the help of attorney Marc Toberoff. — Anthony D'alessandro, Deadline, 13 July 2026

Her classmates were writing screenplays and song lyrics, developing fashion lines and Instagram followings. — Jessica Contrera, New Yorker, 13 July 2026

Zann eventually got a call from casting director Meredith Layne and a screenplay with lines that were instantly familiar from her time voicing Rogue, the spunky heroine whose touch can be deadly, in the ‘90s. — Carlos Aguilar, Los Angeles Times, 10 July 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