player
noun
a person or thing that plays.
player
1 American
[play-er]
/ ˈpleɪ ər /
noun
-
players
plural
-
a person or thing that plays.
-
a person who takes part or is skilled in some game or sport.
-
a person who plays parts on the stage; an actor.
-
a performer on a musical instrument.
-
Informal. a participant, as in a conference or business deal.
-
a machine or piece of software that reproduces sound or images: a videodisc player;
a record player;
a videodisc player;
a digital media player.
-
a gambler.
-
Slang. a person engaged in illicit or illegal activity, especially a pimp.
-
a mechanical device by which a musical instrument, as a player piano, is played automatically.
Player
2
American
[play-er]
/ ˈpleɪ ər /
noun
player
1
British
/ ˈpleɪə /
noun
-
a person who participates in or is skilled at some game or sport
-
a person who plays a game or sport professionally
-
a person who plays a musical instrument
-
an actor
-
informal a participant, esp a powerful one, in a particular field of activity
a leading city player
-
See record player
-
the playing mechanism in a Pianola
Player
2
British
/ ˈpleɪə /
noun
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Etymology
Origin of player
before 1000; Middle English pleyer, Old English plegere. See play, -er 1
Explanation
If you like to play anything at all, you’re a player. If you take part in a game or sport, you're a player. If you're a big flirt, you’re a player. Like the kazoo? You’re a kazoo player. Play on! Some players play cards or tennis, and others play roles in theater productions. You could also call a musician a player, like a piano player or a flute player. Vital or influential people (or groups) are sometimes described this way too: "The president called a meeting of all the biggest political players." And finally, there are inanimate players, like music or radio players, or an MP3 player.
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:
"I hope it is not a big problem. He is a special player for us. We need him."
From BBC ● Oct. 24, 2026
The researchers also developed a scenario explaining how this mixing could have occurred, with Jupiter emerging as a key player.
From Science Daily ● Oct. 24, 2026
Before beginning his pregame shooting routine, Hachimura hugged Lakers assistant Beau Levesque, who was Hachimura’s player development coach, and Lakers guard Austin Reaves, one of his closest friends.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 24, 2026
In the aftermath of Canada's World Cup final defeat by England last September, De Goede received her women's player of the year gong.
From BBC ● Oct. 24, 2026
Each player paid a dollar, with two free entries allowed.
From "Endgame" by Frank Brady
It is only seven weeks since Bruno Fernandes stood in the Manchester Opera House and spoke of his pride at being named PFA Player of the Year for 2025-26.
From BBC ● Oct. 13, 2026
Appeared in the October 8, 2026, print edition as 'Crypto Player Ripple Breaks Into Finance'.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 7, 2026
A Rams defense missing defensive linemen Myles Garrett and Aaron Donald—and their five combined Defensive Player of the Year awards—had somehow given the team a prayer.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 5, 2026
At the final game of the 6U tournament near Los Angeles, Andrea Solis fought back tears as her 6-year-old collected an award for Most Valuable Player.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 4, 2026
Acererak slapped the Two Player button, and my eyes locked on the screen.
From "Ready Player One: A Novel" by Ernest Cline
"We have changed the spirit of the group and improved the performances of the players, especially some of the more fragile players, maybe the younger players. We have suffered enough."
From BBC ● Oct. 24, 2026
Luka Doncic is the Lakers star opposing players love to hate, but his energy and reputation for perturbing players and fans is what makes him great.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 24, 2026
The pressure on him has been heightened by controversial comments from senior players Lisandro Martinez and Bruno Fernandes attacking the club's recruitment and his tactics.
From BBC ● Oct. 24, 2026
And they will be without several key players counted on to reverse their fortunes.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 24, 2026
If Bobby took anything away from that match, it was the knowledge that the Soviet players were the best in the world.
From "Endgame" by Frank Brady
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Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
