WORD PLAY

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does word play mean? 

• WORD PLAY (noun)
  The noun WORD PLAY has 1 sense:

1. playing on words or speech sounds

  Familiarity information: WORD PLAY used as a noun is very rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• WORD PLAY (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Playing on words or speech sounds

Classified under:

Nouns denoting acts or actions

Hypernyms ("word play" is a kind of...):

caper; frolic; gambol; play; romp (gay or light-hearted recreational activity for diversion or amusement)

 Context examples 

Dr Martin Worthington’s new research analysing the word play in the story has uncovered the duplicitous language of a Babylonian god called Ea, who was motivated by self-interest.

(‘Trickster god’ used fake news in Babylonian Noah story, University of Cambridge)