multiplayer

IPA/ˈmʌltipleɪə(r)/
KK[mˈʌltiplˌeɚ]IPA/ˈmʌltipleɪər/

multiplayer — adjective

  • multiplayerpositive
  • more multiplayercomparative
  • most multiplayersuperlative

1. relating to a video game or online game that is designed for two or more people

1.adjectiveB1
Definition

relating to a video game or online game that is designed for two or more people to play together in one shared game session, either competing against each other or working as a team.

Example

Priya and her friends play a popular multiplayer game every Friday evening after school.

collocation: multiplayer game + play

The role-playing game includes both single-player and multiplayer modes for different play styles.

contrasted with single-player mode

Common collocations
  • multiplayer game
  • multiplayer mode
  • multiplayer match
  • multiplayer session
  • multiplayer experience
  • multiplayer feature
  • multiplayer option
  • multiplayer component
Synonyms
  • co-op

    refers specifically to cooperative play where players work together, whereas multiplayer includes both competitive and cooperative modes

  • online

    emphasises internet-based play; a multiplayer game can also be played locally on the same device without an internet connection

  • multi-person

    less common and more technical; used mainly in hardware or controller contexts

Antonyms
  • single-player

    the direct opposite: games designed for only one person

  • solo

    informal alternative to single-player, common in gaming communities

Grammar Patterns

multiplayer + noun

Usage Note

Almost always appears before the noun it modifies (multiplayer game, multiplayer mode, multiplayer feature). No comparative or superlative form exists. In informal gaming communities, it is sometimes abbreviated as MP in written chat.

Common Mistakes

This console has many multiplayers games.
This console has many multiplayer games.
Multiplayer is an adjective and never takes a plural -s ending.
I prefer multiplayer than single-player.
I prefer multiplayer to single-player.
Use to, not than, when expressing a preference between two game modes.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: adjective/1

Multiplayer is the broadest term, covering any game where two or more people play together — whether competitively, cooperatively, over the internet, or on the same screen. Co-op (cooperative) narrows this to games where players help each other toward a shared goal, such as fighting monsters together rather than against each other. Online specifies that the connection happens via the internet, excluding local or split-screen play. PvP (player versus player) focuses strictly on head-to-head competition, like in fighting games or battle arenas. LAN refers to a local-area network setup where players connect computers in the same room. For example: 'Mario Kart is a multiplayer game that supports both local and online play.' 'In co-op mode, you and your friend work together to solve puzzles.' 'PvP matches in Street Fighter pit two players against each other in real time.'

multiplayer ↗co-op ↗online ↗PvPLAN ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

Phrases

  • multiplayer online battle arena
  • local multiplayer
  • online multiplayer
  • cross-platform multiplayer

Etymology

LatinEnglish

Multiplayer is a compound word formed from the prefix multi- (from Latin multus, meaning 'many') and player (from Old English plegan, meaning 'to move about briskly or engage in recreation'). The term first appeared in the 1970s and 1980s alongside the rise of networked and arcade video games, as developers created games that allowed more than one person to participate at the same time. Before digital gaming, the concept existed only in non-digital contexts like board games and sports.