set piece

noun

plural set pieces
1
a
: a composition (as in literature, art, or music) executed in a fixed or ideal form often with studied artistry and brilliant effect
b
: a scene, depiction, speech, or event that is obviously designed to have an imposing effect
2
: a realistic piece of stage scenery standing by itself
3
: a precisely planned and conducted military operation
an offensive set piece that caught the enemy off guard
4
sports : a carefully planned sequence of movements performed by the members of a team (as in soccer)
A set piece can be used on either a direct or indirect type of [free] kick, providing one of the few times during the game that a team can execute something that it may have spent hours practicing.Doug Roberson
set-piece adjective

Examples of set piece in a Sentence

a movie with some lovely set pieces She scored with a set piece.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Fulham enjoyed 62 per cent possession but landed zero shots on target, then were stung by a set piece and finished off on the counter-attack. Sam Tighe, New York Times, 28 Mar. 2025 There was one game at Newcastle when a new player was sent on as a substitute and promptly lost the opponent he was meant to be marking at a set piece. George Caulkin, The Athletic, 13 Mar. 2025 What follows is a roughly 12-minute sequence which begins with woozy revelations and ends with someone’s hand being impaled by a steak knife — a standout set piece that’s both a showcase and a pacesetter for the rest of the film. David Fear, Rolling Stone, 12 Mar. 2025 That insurance goal proved to be invaluable two minutes later, when Dougherty’s defenders yanked down a De La Salle player in the box on a set piece and were called for a penalty. Joseph Dycus, The Mercury News, 3 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for set piece

Word History

First Known Use

1834, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of set piece was in 1834

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Cite this Entry

“Set piece.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/set%20piece. Accessed 3 Apr. 2025.

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