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

ˈset-ˌpēs 

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

Key cast and crew take us behind season 1's massive set piece and the major story changes. —Nick Romano, Entertainment Weekly, 8 Dec. 2025

Fans roared again at the 39-minute mark, when Inter Miami goalkeeper Rocco Rios Novo chested away a close range shot by Emmanuel Sabbi after a header from Muller on a set piece. —Miami Herald, 7 Dec. 2025

The latest version kicks off with a moody set piece before a gun shot and thudding drums make way for a beat that sounds like a drowning beeper. —Craig Jenkins, Vulture, 2 Dec. 2025

Attacking set pieces were once again critical. —Mark Critchley, New York Times, 1 Dec. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1834, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Rhymes for set piece

• apiece
• aris
• assise
• caprice
• cerise
• decease
• decrease
• eyepiece
• facepiece
• handpiece
• headpiece
• increase