playmaker
PLAY-may-ker
/ˈpleɪˌmeɪkər/
A player who leads the team's offensive play and creates scoring opportunities for teammates.
A playmaker isn't necessarily the one who scores the most, but the one who 'orchestrates' the game.
The story behind the word. A compound word from 'play' and 'maker.' It literally describes someone who 'makes the play' happen through vision and passing.
Word relationships
- orchestrator: Orchestrator is a more formal, metaphorical term; playmaker is the standard sports term.
- finisher: A finisher is a player who completes the play by scoring, rather than creating it.
Commonly confused with
- captain: A captain is the team leader (often for morale/rules); a playmaker is the tactical leader on the field.
Collocations
- creative playmaker
- star playmaker
- midfield playmaker
- natural playmaker
Example sentences
- "As the team's primary playmaker, he was responsible for every dangerous pass into the box." Soccer
- "The point guard is the natural playmaker, directing his teammates into their correct positions." Basketball
Memory hook
The playmaker 'makes' the 'play' possible for others. The game's architect.
When not to use
Don't use for a player who is purely a finisher or a defender with no creative role.
Fun facts
- In Italian soccer, a deep-lying playmaker is called a 'regista,' which also means 'director' in the context of film.
Related words
Explore more words
orchestrate, playbook, execution, spearhead, scout, facilitate
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