ENGLISH
REFERENCE

playwright

n. countable
B2 Upper Intermediate US //ˈpɫeɪˌɹaɪt// UK //plˈeɪɹaɪt// play·wright

n. a person who writes plays for the theater. You use this word to describe someone whose job is creating stories for actors to perform on stage.

n. a person who writes dramatic literature or plays for theatrical performance.


SIMPLE

The playwright is attending the opening night of her new show.

CONTEXTUAL

After years of writing short stories, he found success as a playwright when his first drama was performed in London.

COMPLEX

Contemporary playwrights often experiment with non-linear narratives and breaking the fourth wall to engage modern audiences who are accustomed to cinematic storytelling techniques.

Synonyms
Origin

From play + wright (“builder, craftsman”).

Usage

Note the spelling of the suffix '-wright' (meaning a maker or builder), which is distinct from the verb 'write'.

Pitfall

playwriteplaywrightLearners often misspell the word as 'playwrite' because it sounds like 'write', but it uses the old English term 'wright' meaning a craftsman.

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