showrunner

noun

show·​run·​ner ˈshō-ˌrə-nər 

variants or less commonly show-runner or show runner

plural showrunners also show-runners or show runners

: a person who oversees the writing and production of each episode of a television series and has ultimate managerial and creative control over the series

A showrunner is more than just a producer. He or she is the creator or co-creator of a show and is a writer as well. These people are the guiding lights for a production. They are making decisions about casting, story arcs, as well as the day-to-day issues of getting a show done and ready for air.

—G. Michael Dobbs

Examples of showrunner in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The showrunners have explicitly stated Squid Game Season 3 is the last season. —Griff Griffin, MSNBC Newsweek, 24 June 2025

Any additional candidates must submit at least 25 signatures by July 23. Stiehm, a TV showrunner, has served as president for the last four years. —Gene Maddaus, Variety, 23 June 2025

If anyone thought Maggie would actually go through with killing Negan then good, showrunner Eli Jorné and team did their job. —Josh Wigler, HollywoodReporter, 23 June 2025

But in the subsequent weeks, when the small staff dispersed to outline their individual episodes and write the initial drafts, Willimon held meetings with showrunner Tony Gilroy over Zoom. —Ben Travers, IndieWire, 20 June 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1989, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for showrunner

• forerunner
• brunner
• gunnar
• gunner
• runner
• tonner