screenplay
Screenplay (noun) means the written text of a film or TV show, including dialogue, scenes, and action descriptions. Example: “The director asked for three rewrites of the screenplay before filming began.”
How to use screenplay
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishThe full written blueprint for a movie or TV episode — dialogue, scene descriptions, and stage directions.
Don't confuse with "script" generally — a screenplay specifically refers to film/TV writing, while "script" can also mean a stage play or even computer code.
Word forms
screenplayed past tense, screenplays plural, screenplays singular
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The director asked for three rewrites of the _____ before filming began.
Etymology
A straightforward blend of "screen" (the cinema screen) and "play" (a dramatic script), coined once movies needed their own term distinct from stage plays.
Synonyms
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Rhymes for screenplay
See all rhymes for screenplay →Frequently asked questions
What does “screenplay” mean?
The word “screenplay” means the written text of a film or TV show, including dialogue, scenes, and action descriptions. In plain terms, the full written blueprint for a movie or TV episode — dialogue, scene descriptions, and stage directions.
How do you pronounce “screenplay”?
“Screenplay” is pronounced SKREEN-play (/ˈskɹiːnˌpleɪ/ in IPA).
How do you use “screenplay” in a sentence?
Here is “screenplay” used in a sentence: “The director asked for three rewrites of the screenplay before filming began.”
What part of speech is “screenplay”?
Depending on how it is used, “screenplay” can be a noun and a verb.
Is “screenplay” a common word?
“Screenplay” is an uncommon word in modern English, usually learned at around the C1 level.
How many meanings does “screenplay” have?
“Screenplay” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: the written text of a film or TV show, including dialogue, scenes, and action descriptions.
What is the difference between a screenplay and a script?
A screenplay specifically refers to the written text for a film or TV show, including dialogue, scene descriptions, and action. 'Script' is a broader term that can refer to writing for film, television, theatre, radio, or other performance media, so every screenplay is a script but not every script is a screenplay.
What is the difference between a screenplay and a novel?
A screenplay is written to be performed and filmed, focusing on dialogue, action descriptions, and scene structure rather than the internal narration and prose style found in a novel. Screenplays follow strict formatting conventions for scene headings and camera direction that novels don't use.
Can screenplay be used as a verb?
Yes, screenplay can function as a verb meaning to write a screenplay for a film or show, though this usage is far less common than the noun form referring to the written text itself.