horseplay
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.”
How to use horseplay
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishRough, silly play that could easily end in someone getting hurt.
Neutral but disapproving in tone, and it is the standard term in workplace safety rules and insurance claims. Uncountable — never 'a horseplay'.
Horseplay is an uncountable noun: say 'there was horseplay', not 'there were horseplays'.
Trace the full origin ↓Word forms
horseplayed past tense, horseplays singular
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.
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for horseplay
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.