gunplay

American

[guhn-play] / ˈgʌnˌpleɪ /

noun

the exchange of gunshots, usually with intent to wound or kill.

gunplay British

/ ˈɡʌnˌpleɪ /

noun

the use of firearms, as by criminals

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of gunplay

An Americanism dating back to 1880–85; gun ¹ + play

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

gunplay

“Normal” sits exactly in that zone of excessive gunplay punctuated by needle drops and ironic expressions.

From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 17, 2026

Police always have strict policies about engaging in gunplay — especially in public areas with many innocent bystanders.

From Salon ● Jan. 16, 2026

The gunplay is primary though there are some obligatory scenes of martial arts fights.

From Seattle Times ● Sep. 22, 2023

Throughout, Kim masterfully breaks the farcical mood with lean gunplay captured by the cinematographer Nam Hyun-woo’s kinetic use of shaky cam.

From New York Times ● Dec. 30, 2022

The crowd blinked; but when it opened its eyes the gunplay had not occurred.

From Gunman's Reckoning by Max Brand

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Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023