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Definition of playwright

playwright

/ˈpleɪˌɹaɪt/
play · wright
Plural:playwrights
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playwright Lexical Profile

playwright Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

A person who writes dramatic works or plays for the stage.

Example

"The celebrated playwright attended the opening night of her latest comedy at the national theater."

Synonyms
View all synonyms for playwright

Word Nuance & Usage

The second element is spelled '-wright' (meaning a maker or craftsperson, as in 'shipwright' or 'wheelwright'), not '-write', even though a playwright writes plays.

• Rhymes for playwright

• Nearby Words

playthrough
playtime
playwear
playwright
playwriting
plaza
plea

Word Origin & Etymology

Coined in the early 17th century (originally by Ben Jonson as a disparaging term) from 'play' + 'wright' (from Old English 'wyrhta', meaning a worker or maker of something).

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Playwright. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/playwright
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