playwright

American  

[pley-rahyt] / ˈpleɪˌraɪt /

noun

1. a writer of plays; dramatist.

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playwright British  

/ ˈpleɪˌraɪt /

noun

1. a person who writes plays

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Etymology

Origin of playwright

First recorded in 1680–90; play + wright

Explanation

A playwright is someone who writes plays. Playwrights are also known as dramatists. Just as a poet writes poems, a playwright writes plays. If the spelling of playwright looks odd, that's because wright is a word for a craftsperson or someone who builds things (like a shipwright builds ships). Given the juggling of characters, scenes, and plots in a play, you can see how writing a play is like building something. The most famous playwright ever in English is William Shakespeare.

Example Sentences

The German playwright Heiner Müller once warned that you will not understand what Wilson was up to when you see his work.

From Los Angeles Times • May 11, 2026

When Dame Hilary published her original short story in 2014, its title was meant to provoke a reaction, according to playwright Alexandra Wood.

From BBC • May 8, 2026

Hellenists like myself have been delighted by this upsurge of Greek drama but also perplexed by the dominance of a single playwright and a single set of myths.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 6, 2026

The playwright recognizes the speculative and incomplete nature of history, which is always born out of the needs and assumptions of the moment it’s written.

From Los Angeles Times • May 5, 2026

He wanted a more creative career instead, and he set out to develop the skills to become a playwright.

From "Spooked!" by Gail Jarrow