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

These two team-mates share set pieces, with Rice registering nine key passes and three big chances created in the last four gameweeks. —Holly Shand, New York Times, 12 Dec. 2025

Again, a new set piece and choreography were designed, with Welch a game – and hilarious – participant in learning dance moves and experiencing her first hydraulic lift. —Melissa Ruggieri, USA Today, 12 Dec. 2025

Charli asks, already inside the set piece. —Jason P. Frank, Vulture, 11 Dec. 2025

Key cast and crew take us behind season 1's massive set piece and the major story changes. —Nick Romano, Entertainment Weekly, 8 Dec. 2025

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