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

McGuane had remunerative dalliances with ’70s Hollywood, selling screenplays and hobnobbing with the inebriate tranche of the A-list. — Ryan Chapman, Literary Hub, 30 Sep. 2026

Leading the jury selecting the winner of the Grierson Award for the documentary competition is British-Indian writer Sandhya Suri, whose narrative fiction debut Santosh was shortlisted for the Oscars and won the BIFA for best screenplay. — Lily Ford, HollywoodReporter, 30 Sep. 2026

King also penned the screenplay for the coming-of-age film Now & Then. — Rosy Cordero, Deadline, 30 Sep. 2026

Stallone wrote and starred in the movie, earning Oscar nominations for best actor and best original screenplay. — Janelle Ash, FOXNews.com, 29 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