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noun

horseplay

HORS-play
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Horseplay (noun) means Rough, boisterous physical play — pushing, wrestling, chasing and mock fighting — carried on for fun but with a real chance of somebody getting hurt or something getting broken. Example: “No horseplay in the swimming pool.”

noun
1
Rough, boisterous physical play — pushing, wrestling, chasing and mock fighting — carried on for fun but with a real chance of somebody getting hurt or something getting broken.
"No horseplay in the swimming pool."
"The injury happened during horseplay in the warehouse, not while he was working."
"The teacher told the boys to cut out the horseplay before someone got hurt."
"A bit of horseplay in the pool turned into a real dunking contest."

How to use horseplay

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishRough, silly play that could easily end in someone getting hurt.

When to use it

Neutral but disapproving in tone, and it is the standard term in workplace safety rules and insurance claims. Uncountable — never 'a horseplay'.

Memory tip

Horseplay is an uncountable noun: say 'there was horseplay', not 'there were horseplays'.

Trace the full origin ↓
Easily confused with
roughhousing monkey business → bullying →
Common pairings
no horseplay engage in horseplay horseplay in the workplace injured during horseplay
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Word forms

Third person singular
horseplays
Past tense
horseplayed
Test yourself on “horseplay” A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage →

Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

No _____ in the swimming pool.

Etymology

From horse plus play. Horse was long used as an intensifier meaning 'large, coarse or rough', as in horseradish and horse laugh.

Origin: English

Synonyms

View more →
roughhousing rough-and-tumble monkey business larking about tomfoolery

Antonyms

decorum orderly behaviour

Related words

li protocol dignity manners folly mischief commotion indulgence

Rhymes for horseplay

ay may day say ray hay lay pay jay way yay nay
See all rhymes for horseplay →

Frequently asked questions

What does “horseplay” mean?
The word “horseplay” means rough, boisterous play or messing around, sometimes leading to accidental injury. In plain terms, rowdy, physical fooling around, often among friends or kids.
What is the difference between horseplay and bullying?
Horseplay is mutual and everyone taking part is willing, even if it turns out badly. Bullying is one-sided and aimed at a person who wants it to stop, so the same shove can be either, depending entirely on consent.
How do you use “horseplay” in a sentence?
Here is “horseplay” used in a sentence: “The teacher told the boys to cut out the horseplay before someone got hurt.”
Why does 'horse' mean rough in horseplay?
In older English, horse was attached to words to mean coarse, large or crude — the same logic gives horseradish and horse laugh. Horseplay is therefore literally 'coarse play'.
What part of speech is “horseplay”?
“Horseplay” is a noun.
Why do workplaces ban horseplay?
Because it causes a steady stream of injuries around machinery, ladders and vehicles, and because injuries from it can complicate liability and insurance. Most safety policies name horseplay explicitly for that reason.

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li protocol dignity manners folly mischief commotion indulgence