Meanings
plural shadow plays · alternative shadowplay
- countableuncountablehand gamesAn ancient form of storytelling and entertainment using opaque, often articulated figures in front of an illuminated backdrop to create the illusion of moving images.
The project invokes aesthetics particularly associated with children: play, craft, and amateurism. Indeed, especially in segments that employ elements such as a spotlight and shadowplay, Green Porno is reminiscent of an elementary-school pageant.
2018, Nicole Seymour, Bad Environmentalism, page 86Synonyms: shadow puppetry
- countableuncountableA play of this form.
Synonyms & antonyms
nounAn ancient form of storytelling and entertainment using opaque, often articulated figures in front of an illuminated backdrop to create the illusion of moving images.
More synonyms by meaning
Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.
Origin
Translations
Catalan teatre d'ombres
- teatre d'ombresform of storytelling using opaque figures in front of an illuminated backdrop
Chinese Mandarin 皮影戲 /皮影戏
- 皮影戲 /皮影戏 (píyǐngxì)form of storytelling using opaque figures in front of an illuminated backdrop
Dutch schimmenspel
- schimmenspelform of storytelling using opaque figures in front of an illuminated backdrop
Esperanto ombroludo
- ombroludoform of storytelling using opaque figures in front of an illuminated backdrop
Finnish varjoteatteri
- varjoteatteriform of storytelling using opaque figures in front of an illuminated backdrop
French théâtre d'ombres, ombres chinoises
- théâtre d'ombresform of storytelling using opaque figures in front of an illuminated backdrop
- ombres chinoisesform of storytelling using opaque figures in front of an illuminated backdrop
- ombromanieform of storytelling using opaque figures in front of an illuminated backdrop
German Schattenspiel
- Schattenspielform of storytelling using opaque figures in front of an illuminated backdrop
Hungarian árnyjáték
- árnyjátékform of storytelling using opaque figures in front of an illuminated backdrop
Indonesian wayang
- wayangform of storytelling using opaque figures in front of an illuminated backdrop
Japanese 影絵
- 影絵 (kagee)form of storytelling using opaque figures in front of an illuminated backdrop
Korean 그림자극
- 그림자극 (geurimjageuk)form of storytelling using opaque figures in front of an illuminated backdrop
Malay wayang kulit
- wayang kulitform of storytelling using opaque figures in front of an illuminated backdrop
Polish teatr cieni
- teatr cieniform of storytelling using opaque figures in front of an illuminated backdrop
Portuguese teatro de sombras
- teatro de sombrasform of storytelling using opaque figures in front of an illuminated backdrop
Russian теа́тр тене́й
- теа́тр тене́й (teátr tenéj)form of storytelling using opaque figures in front of an illuminated backdrop
Spanish teatro de sombras
- teatro de sombrasform of storytelling using opaque figures in front of an illuminated backdrop
Swedish skuggspel
- skuggspelform of storytelling using opaque figures in front of an illuminated backdrop
Turkish gölge oyunu
- gölge oyunuform of storytelling using opaque figures in front of an illuminated backdrop
Welsh sioe gysgodion
- sioe gysgodionform of storytelling using opaque figures in front of an illuminated backdrop
Cite this entry
shadow play. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/shadow%20play
“shadow play.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/shadow%20play. Accessed November 3, 2026.
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “shadow play,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/shadow%20play.
Source: shadow play on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.