word play

noun

Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see word, play.

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Meanings

nounword play (countable and uncountable, plural word plays)

plural word plays

  1. countableuncountableUsed other than figuratively or idiomatically: see word, play.
  2. countableuncountableA technique in which the nature of the words used become part of the subject of the work, such as puns, phonetic mix-ups such as spoonerisms, obscure words and meanings, clever rhetorical excursions, oddly formed sentences, and telling character names.
Cite this entry
APA

word play. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/word%20play

MLA

“word play.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/word%20play. Accessed November 4, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “word play,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/word%20play.

Source: word play on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.