set piece

noun

plural set pieces

1

a

: a composition (as in literature, art, or music) executed in a fixed or ideal form often with studied artistry and brilliant effect

b

: a scene, depiction, speech, or event that is obviously designed to have an imposing effect

2

: a realistic piece of stage scenery standing by itself

3

: a precisely planned and conducted military operation

an offensive set piece that caught the enemy off guard

4

sports : a carefully planned sequence of movements performed by the members of a team (as in soccer)

A set piece can be used on either a direct or indirect type of [free] kick, providing one of the few times during the game that a team can execute something that it may have spent hours practicing.

—Doug Roberson

set-piece

ˈset-ˌpēs 

adjective

Examples of set piece in a Sentence

a movie with some lovely set pieces

She scored with a set piece.

Recent Examples on the Web

From this point on, the play has farcical fun with dialogue and set pieces pertaining to dramatic roles and drastic epiphanies. —Literary Hub, 9 June 2026

Whether from set pieces or open play, its accurate delivery pairs effectively with high-level headers of the ball. —Esteban Campanela, CNN Money, 7 June 2026

Could set pieces be a dominant theme? —Anantaajith Raghuraman, New York Times, 5 June 2026

Producers Roy Lee and Steven Schneider persuaded the powers that be to resume filming as is, but the nearly week-long pause forced Mollner to scrap the major river set piece. —Brian Davids, HollywoodReporter, 4 June 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1834, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Rhymes for set piece

• apiece
• aris
• assise
• caprice
• cerise
• decease
• decrease
• eyepiece
• facepiece
• handpiece
• headpiece
• increase