Synonyms

play on words

American

noun

a pun or the act of punning.

play on words British

noun

another term for pun 1

"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

play on words Idioms

A word or turn of phrase with a double meaning, a pun or other humorous use of language. For example, Shakespeare was a master at plays on words—his dramas are full of puns. [First half of 1700s]

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How does play-on-words compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

pun vs. play on words

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:

play on words

And he has also proposed the creation of a "No. 10 North" to coordinate a devolution -- a play on words on the UK prime minister's address at 10 Downing Street.

From Barron's ● Jul. 9, 2026

They have a cocktail there called the “Herb Your Enthusiasm,” a play on words to “Curb Your Enthusiasm.”

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 25, 2024

With such past stunts in mind, some Saints fans defended the name as a play on words and nothing more.

From Seattle Times ● Mar. 29, 2024

"Expecto Patrol-man!" said another, as a play on words of "Expecto Patronum", the words of the powerful Patronus Charm.

From BBC ● Feb. 12, 2024

I don’t react to the play on words.

From "Allegiant" by Veronica Roth

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