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

Those circumstances intensified the communal vibe already embedded in Meyer’s screenplay. — Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 17 Aug. 2026

Henry Fonda and Hepburn won leading acting honors, and the film won for screenplay, which Ernest Thompson adapted from his play of the same name. — Beth Harris, Los Angeles Times, 15 Aug. 2026

Both Henry Fonda and Hepburn won their Academy Awards, as did Thompson for his adapted screenplay. — Greg Evans, Deadline, 14 Aug. 2026

Shuang co-wrote the film’s screenplay with Pengfei and Xu Yizhou, and served as an executive producer. — Patrick Brzeski, HollywoodReporter, 14 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