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

Ira Parker, the co-creator and showrunner behind A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, confirms these pests were a genuine issue when filming this big set piece. —Nick Romano, Entertainment Weekly, 16 Feb. 2026

She was involved in multiple sections, starting out in La Casita, a set piece modeled after traditional Puerto Rican homes. —Joseph Hernandez, Kansas City Star, 13 Feb. 2026

The opening 20 minutes feature a set piece involving the CN Tower (which did not approve the film’s use of its site) in a sequence that may stress out those who balk at heights. —Fran Hoepfner, Vulture, 13 Feb. 2026

There is a demand for experience in the Premier League pressure cooker, as well as a movement towards a more physical style of play dominated by long throws and set pieces. —Patrick Boyland, New York Times, 13 Feb. 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