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

Previously, Nuno Espirito Santo’s side were porous defensively and struggled against opposition set pieces. —Roshane Thomas, New York Times, 9 May 2026

In one of the movie's iconic set pieces, Kidman and McGregor performed on top of a 60-foot elephant. —Victoria Edel, PEOPLE, 6 May 2026

Leon also has a special talent on set pieces for the Saints, using her agility and explosiveness to perform flip throws. —Patrick Z. McGavin, Chicago Tribune, 6 May 2026

This fourth season was the series’ most ambitious, both in its set pieces (shoot-outs, car chases) and in its interrogation of what its characters value and love, and if Dark Winds can keep mixing up the flavor of Leaphorn and Chee’s foes, its forecast looks good. —Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 4 May 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