playbill

1 of 2

noun

play·​bill ˈplā-ˌbil 

: a bill (see bill entry 4 sense 5a) advertising a public performance or set of performances

A playbill—an early poster—advertising Shakespeare's Hamlet at Newcastle's original Theatre Royal in Mosley Street in December 1791 was discovered among prints bought in an auction sale …

—Evening Chronicle

So the two began plastering up playbills and cultivating a badboy image.

—Logan Hill

Playbill

2 of 2

trademark

—used for a theater program (see program entry 1 sense 2a)

Examples of playbill in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

In the play, Arnold played both Marley and Mr. Fezziwig, the production's playbill showed. —Anthony Robledo, USA TODAY, 30 Nov. 2024

Arnold played the roles of Marley and Mr. Fezziwig in A Christmas Carol, according to the Citadel’s playbill. —Denise Petski, Deadline, 28 Nov. 2024

Each vintage the back labels are different, and resemble traditional circus tickets and playbills, containing creative and humorous messages that harken to the olden days of wonder and spectacle. —Tyler Shepherd, USA TODAY, 21 Apr. 2024

According to a Citadel Theatre playbill, Arnold played the roles of Marley and Mr. Fezziwig in the show, which runs till Christmas Eve. —Ingrid Vasquez, People.com, 28 Nov. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1610, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

playbill

noun

play·​bill ˈplā-ˌbil 

: a poster advertising a play