player
13 synonyms for player, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Noun — Someone taking part in a game or sport.
Synonyms
Everyday swaps
Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.
Less common
Still standard English, but they carry more weight.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
How to use player
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
key player
star player
media player
major player
Etymology
From Old English pleġere ("athlete, one who plays"), built from play plus the agent suffix -er.
Full origin of player →Frequently asked questions
What does “player” mean?
The word “player” means someone taking part in a game or sport. In plain terms, anyone or anything that plays — a sportsperson, an actor, a media device, or, informally, someone who juggles several romantic partners.
How do you pronounce “player”?
“Player” is pronounced PLAY-uh (/ˈpleɪ.ɚ/ in IPA).
How do you use “player” in a sentence?
Here is “player” used in a sentence: “Only eleven players are allowed on the pitch at once.”
What part of speech is “player”?
“Player” is a noun.
Where does the word “player” come from?
The word “player” comes from Old English. From Old English pleġere ("athlete, one who plays"), built from play plus the agent suffix -er.
Is “player” a common word?
“Player” is a very common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A1 level.
How many meanings does “player” have?
“Player” has 5 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: someone taking part in a game or sport.
What is the difference between a player and an athlete?
A player is anyone taking part in a game or sport, including non-physical games like chess or cards. An athlete is someone skilled and trained in physical sport and exercise. The two overlap for sports like football, but "athlete" stresses fitness and physical ability, while "player" simply means a participant.
Does "player" only refer to sports?
No. Its main sense is someone in a game or sport, but "player" also means a significant person or company in a field ("a major player in tech"), a device for media ("a music player"), and, in older theatre language, an actor. Context shows which meaning applies.
What is an example of a player?
A footballer on the pitch, a tennis player at a match, and a chess player at the board are all players. In video games, each participant is a player too. The word covers anyone actively taking part in the game or sport, whatever form it takes.
