screenplay

screenplay — noun

1. a written document that contains all the spoken dialogue, scene descriptions, an

1.nounB2
Definition

a written document that contains all the spoken dialogue, scene descriptions, and camera instructions for a film or television programme

Example

Manuela spent six months writing the screenplay for a historical film.

collocation: write a screenplay for [genre] film

The producer asked Haruto to rewrite the screenplay before the director started filming.

collocation: rewrite a screenplay before filming

Common collocations
  • write a screenplay
  • rewrite a screenplay
  • adapt a screenplay
  • original screenplay
  • award-winning screenplay
  • screenplay for a film / television series
  • based on a screenplay by
Synonyms
  • script

    broader term; covers theatre, radio, television, and film — screenplay is limited to film and TV

  • teleplay

    specifically a script written for television, not for cinema

  • scenario

    an outline or summary of the plot, not the full document with dialogue and directions

Grammar Patterns

a screenplay (for + film/show)

the screenplay of + film/show

Common Mistakes

I just finished writing the screenplay for my new play.
I just finished writing the script for my new play.
A screenplay is specifically for film or television, not for theatre productions.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

Screenplay, script, teleplay, and scenario all refer to written texts used in film or television, but they differ in scope and format. A script is the broadest term — it covers any written work for theatre, radio, TV, or film. A screenplay is a specific type of script written for a film, including camera directions and scene descriptions alongside dialogue. A teleplay is the television equivalent of a screenplay, formatted for the different production needs of TV. A scenario is not a full script at all — it is a plot outline or summary that describes the main events without the detailed dialogue and stage directions. For example, a writer might first produce a scenario (the story idea), then expand it into a full screenplay (the film-ready document), which is then formatted as a teleplay if the project is made for television.

screenplay ↗script ↗teleplayscenario ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

  • screenplay writer
  • screenplay award
  • screenplay adaptation
  • screenplay format

Phrases

  • based on a screenplay by
  • original screenplay

Prepositions

  • for (screenplay for a film)
  • by (screenplay by [author])

Etymology

Old FrenchOld EnglishEnglish

Screenplay is a compound word formed from 'screen' and 'play'. 'Screen' comes from Old French escren, meaning a protective shield or partition, and later took on the meaning of a cinema or television screen. 'Play' comes from Old English plega, meaning exercise, recreation, or a dramatic performance. The word was first recorded in 1916, combining these two ideas into a single term for the written script of a motion picture.