wordplay

noun

word·​play ˈwərd-ˌplā How to pronounce wordplay (audio)
Synonyms of wordplay
: 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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The characters then find themselves at a desert window display and take the audience along for an adventure filled with witty exchanges, misunderstandings, wordplay and songs. — Denni Hu, Footwear News, 28 Oct. 2026 Even as American Sign Language grows in visibility and is widely recognized as a distinct language (with distinct wordplay, at that), ASL has yet to see its own sign of the year. — New York Times, 22 Oct. 2026 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 See All Example Sentences for wordplay

Word History

First Known Use

1794, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of wordplay was in 1794

Rhymes for wordplay

See All Rhymes for wordplay

Browse Nearby Words

word picture
wordplay
word problem
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Cite this Entry

“Wordplay.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/wordplay. Accessed 1 Nov. 2026.

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Kids Definition

wordplay

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

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