wordplay

noun

word·​play ˈwərd-ˌplā 

: 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

Personal Days is full of wordplay, dry observations, and weird specifics, and none of it feels tacked on or forced. — James Folta, Literary Hub, 10 Sep. 2026

By the first week of September, TikTok users were turning Kirk’s name into a growing lexicon of wordplay. — Rachel Hale, USA Today, 10 Sep. 2026

The show was watched by more than a third of the nation and made Henney so famous that his last name became an object of wordplay. — E. Alex Jung, Vulture, 8 Sep. 2026

Artists used wordplay and resistance imagery to process what happened in their state. — Brittney Melton, NPR, 8 Sep. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1794, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for wordplay

• airway
• allay
• archway
• array
• ashtray
• assez
• astray
• aue
• away
• ballet
• belay
• beltway

Kids Definition

wordplay

noun

word·​play ˈwərd-ˌplā 

: wit that is based on the clever use of words