interplay

American  

[in-ter-pley, in-ter-pley, in-ter-pley] / ˈɪn tərˌpleɪ, ˌɪn tərˈpleɪ, ˈɪn tərˌpleɪ /

noun

1. reciprocal relationship, action, or influence.

   the interplay of plot and character.

---

verb (used without object)

1. to exert influence on each other.

interplay British  

/ ˈɪntəˌpleɪ /

noun

1. reciprocal and mutual action and reaction, as in circumstances, events, or personal relations

---

Etymology

Origin of interplay

First recorded in 1860–65; inter- + play

Explanation

Interplay is a kind of back-and-forth interaction in which each side affects the other. A beautiful piece of music has the perfect interplay between melody, rhythm, and harmony. You can think of interplay as if you're watching an actual play on a stage: the way two characters communicate, whether they're cooperating or clashing with each other, is a kind of interplay. This word is often used in a less concrete way, so you might hear a sociologist talk about the interplay between race and class or a film critic discuss the interplay between violence and comedy in a movie.

Example Sentences

Image: Interplay / Serg Souleiman via Wikia O’Green tells The Verge that the already post-apocalyptic Fallout Online was going to start with another apocalypse.

From The Verge • Aug. 9, 2018

But for once, Interplay got some good news, when a judge denied Bethesda’s request for the injunction.

From The Verge • Aug. 9, 2018

Whatever Bethesda’s plan, Interplay started laying the groundwork for a project codenamed V13 — short for “Vault 13,” the starting location in Fallout.

From The Verge • Aug. 9, 2018

Image: Interplay Entertainment / Caleb Cleveland via Wikia The plan lay dormant for a few years, until 2007, when Interplay sold most of the Fallout franchise to Bethesda Softworks.

From The Verge • Aug. 9, 2018

Interplay, in′tėr-plā, n. mutual action: interchange of action and reaction.

From Chambers's Twentieth Century Dictionary (part 2 of 4: E-M) by Various

Related Words

• give-and-take