showrunner

noun show·run·ner \ ˈshō-ˌrə-nər \

variants: or less commonly show-runner or show runner

Updated on: 16 Apr 2018

Definition of showrunner

plural showrunners also show-runners or show runners

: a person who oversees the writing and production of each episode of a television series and has ultimate managerial and creative control over the series

A showrunner is more than just a producer. He or she is the creator or co-creator of a show and is a writer as well. These people are the guiding lights for a production. They are making decisions about casting, story arcs, as well as the day-to-day issues of getting a show done and ready for air.
—G. Michael Dobbs

Recent Examples of showrunner from the Web

But that’s changing, thanks in part to showrunners such as Glover and actors like Beetz who are helping to upend traditional big-screen beauty norms.

— kate branch, Vogue, "For Deadpool 2’s Zazie Beetz, Straightening Her Natural Hair Is Not an Option," 11 Apr. 2018
The Los Angeles District Attorney's office set up a special unit to investigate criminal behavior in the industry; heads of companies have stepped away, showrunners have been fired.

— andrea mandell, USA TODAY, "Academy clears president John Bailey after sexual harassment claim," 28 Mar. 2018
Rightly or wrongly, Judge (and his showrunner Alec Berg) see that kind of superiority complex as what’s driving so many industry CEOs, and compelling them to overlook the more ethically dodgy parts of their business.

— david sims, The Atlantic, "Silicon Valley Explores the Darker Side of the Industry," 26 Mar. 2018
Common wants that as well, as does Ayanna, our new showrunner.

— william lee, chicagotribune.com, "'The Chi' Season 1 post-mortem: Lena Waithe talks about what worked and what didn't," 18 Mar. 2018
Also, a showrunner told Glamour earlier this month nothing happens to Beth.

— christopher rosa, Glamour, "People Have Some Wild Theories About That 'This Is Us' Finale," 14 Mar. 2018
No driving and home confinement for 20-year-old charged with killing woman and baby in DWI wreck At Conroe High School's demonstration, the showrunners went as far as flying a student off in a helicopter to treat their realistic-looking injuries.

— fernando ramirez, Houston Chronicle, "Conroe students put on 'Walking Dead' style makeup to teach life-saving lesson," 9 Mar. 2018
Back in July 2017, showrunner Julie Plec announced that season 5 of The Originals will be the show's last.

— victoria rodriguez, Seventeen, "Here's What We Know About "The Originals" Season 5," 9 Mar. 2018
There are Oscar nominees and acclaimed showrunners representing.

— gwynedd stuart, Los Angeles Magazine, "Why a Photo of Black Creatives at a Black Panther Screening Went Viral," 20 Feb. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'showrunner.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.