wordplay

noun

word·​play ˈwərd-ˌplā How to pronounce wordplay (audio)
: playful use of words : verbal wit

Examples of wordplay in a Sentence

Oscar Wilde was famous for his witty wordplay.
Recent Examples on the Web By opening the crossword’s gates to more types of words and styles of wordplay, these editors reasoned, the form itself would become more capacious, inventive and, well, more fun. Adrienne Raphel, New York Times, 13 Apr. 2024 With Miller’s typically clever wordplay and the right mix of tangy twang and class-A amplifier snarl, the quartet have spent the years since expanding their sound to include roots rock, rockabilly, garage, and other typically raw variations-on-a-theme on nearly two dozen long players. Kory Grow, Rolling Stone, 3 Apr. 2024 The purple group often involves wordplay, so bear that in mind. Kris Holt, Forbes, 29 Mar. 2024 Joyner’s authenticity and shrewd wordplay touching on topics with substance in a way that pierce listeners’ souls has endeared him to millions across the globe. Michael Saponara, Billboard, 28 Mar. 2024 His wordplay is exceptional and the songs are varied and catchy. Daniel Fienberg, The Hollywood Reporter, 14 Mar. 2024 And yes, the wordplay would appear to be intentional. Ed Masley, The Arizona Republic, 10 Mar. 2024 For its 100th episode, the show went all in on the '80s cult classic that already shares its sense of humor, from its love of wordplay and loud screaming to that one guy who just can't help but run around a mansion while solving a murder. EW.com, 26 Feb. 2024 The editors are known for crafting clever wordplay, testing solvers’ knowledge and coming up with lively themes. Elie Levine, New York Times, 4 Mar. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'wordplay.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1794, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of wordplay was in 1794

Dictionary Entries Near wordplay

Cite this Entry

“Wordplay.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/wordplay. Accessed 19 Apr. 2024.

Kids Definition

wordplay

noun
word·​play ˈwərd-ˌplā How to pronounce wordplay (audio)
: wit that is based on the clever use of words

More from Merriam-Webster on wordplay

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