player

¹

[ pley-er ]

noun

1. a person or thing that plays.
2. a person who takes part or is skilled in some game or sport.
3. a person who plays parts on the stage; an actor.
4. a performer on a musical instrument.
5. Informal. a participant, as in a conference or business deal.
6. a machine or piece of software that reproduces sound or images: a videodisc player;

   a record player;

   a videodisc player;

   a digital media player.

7. a gambler.
8. Slang. a person engaged in illicit or illegal activity, especially a pimp.
9. a mechanical device by which a musical instrument, as a player piano, is played automatically.

Player

²

[ pley-er ]

noun

1. Gary, born 1935, South African golfer.

Player

¹

/ ˈpleɪə /

noun

1. PlayerGary1935MSouth AfricanSPORT AND GAMES: golfer Gary (ˈɡærɪ). born 1935, South African golfer: winner of nine major championships (1959–78), including the British Open (1959, 1968, 1974)

player

²

/ ˈpleɪə /

noun

1. a person who participates in or is skilled at some game or sport
2. a person who plays a game or sport professionally
3. a person who plays a musical instrument
4. an actor
5. informal.
   a participant, esp a powerful one, in a particular field of activity

   a leading city player

6. See record player
7. the playing mechanism in a Pianola

Other Words From

• counter·player noun
• non·player noun
• self-player noun
• super·player noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of player¹

before 1000; Middle English pleyer, Old English plegere. See play, -er ¹

Example Sentences

Mr Williams, a defensive player from Georgia, was a college star at Georgia Southern University before being drafted by the National Football League’s Detroit Lions.

From BBC

A former professional American football player has been charged in connection with the riot at the US Capitol on 6 January 2021.

From BBC

LeBron James, the tournament’s Most Valuable Player, said his thoughts Friday will be elsewhere when the Cup defense begins — and that’s the health of Spurs coach Gregg Popovich, who recently suffered a mild stroke.

From Los Angeles Times

Popovich was an assistant coach when a 19-year-old James was a player on the U.S. men’s basketball team that won bronze at the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens.

From Los Angeles Times

But Jarmond’s biggest move was unquestionably pushing the school’s transition from the Pac-12 to the Big Ten as part of its efforts to remain a major player in college sports.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• athlete
• competitor
• member
• opponent
• participant
• pro
• professional
• rookie