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
Doug Roberson
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
More set-piece struggles Arsenal’s threat at attacking set pieces is often celebrated, but this season there has been a worrying vulnerability with defensive dead-balls.
—James McNicholas, New York Times, 3 May 2025
Pope Francis remained a soccer fan during his time at the Vatican and some in his home country of Argentina think the pope made a set piece out of his passing.
—Mike Snider, USA Today, 27 Apr. 2025
What To Know Trump is joining world leaders in Rome for the funeral of the Pope Francis, which as a major set piece of international relations will include informal talks regarding the war in Ukraine, although Russian President Vladimir Putin is not attending.
—Thomas G. Moukawsher, MSNBC Newsweek, 26 Apr. 2025
Two action sequences, in particular, are already being hailed as some of the year's best, with Evans calling one of them the largest set piece he's ever tackled.
—Mike Miller, EW.com, 26 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for set piece
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James McNicholas, New York Times, 3 May 2025
Pope Francis remained a soccer fan during his time at the Vatican and some in his home country of Argentina think the pope made a set piece out of his passing.
—Mike Snider, USA Today, 27 Apr. 2025
What To Know Trump is joining world leaders in Rome for the funeral of the Pope Francis, which as a major set piece of international relations will include informal talks regarding the war in Ukraine, although Russian President Vladimir Putin is not attending.
—Thomas G. Moukawsher, MSNBC Newsweek, 26 Apr. 2025
Two action sequences, in particular, are already being hailed as some of the year's best, with Evans calling one of them the largest set piece he's ever tackled.
—Mike Miller, EW.com, 26 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for set piece
Cite this Entry
“Set piece.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/set%20piece. Accessed 7 May. 2025.
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