# playwright

/ˈpɫeɪˌɹaɪt/ (US) · /plˈeɪɹaɪt/ (UK) · CEFR B2 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/playwright
Updated: 2026-05-06

## Definition

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.

For teachers: a person who writes dramatic literature or plays for theatrical performance.

## Examples

- The playwright is attending the opening night of her new show.
- After years of writing short stories, he found success as a playwright when his first drama was performed in London.
- Contemporary playwrights often experiment with non-linear narratives and breaking the fourth wall to engage modern audiences who are accustomed to cinematic storytelling techniques.

## Pitfalls

- Not "playwrite" but "playwright" — Learners often misspell the word as 'playwrite' because it sounds like 'write', but it uses the old English term 'wright' meaning a craftsman.

## Usage notes

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

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.