teleplay

IPA/ˈtel.i.pleɪ/
IPA/ˈtel.ə.pleɪ/

teleplay — noun

  • teleplaysingular
  • teleplaysplural

1. a dramatic story created specifically to be filmed and broadcast on television,

1.nounC1
Definition

a dramatic story created specifically to be filmed and broadcast on television, using cameras and multiple locations instead of a single stage

Example

The BBC broadcast a teleplay about the scientist Marie Curie last Sunday evening.

passive: broadcast a teleplay about [topic]

Felix spent a year writing a teleplay set in a small Portuguese fishing village.

writer + write + a teleplay set in [place]

Common collocations
  • write a teleplay
  • broadcast a teleplay
  • original teleplay
  • award-winning teleplay
  • teleplay about [topic]
  • teleplay set in [place]
Synonyms
  • TV drama

    the more common everyday term for a dramatic television production

  • television play

    slightly dated synonym; more common in British English

  • drama programme

    used in UK broadcasting contexts; broader category that also includes series

Antonyms
  • stage play

    a drama performed live in a theatre, not filmed for television

Grammar Patterns

teleplay + about/noun phrase

write/broadcast + a teleplay

Usage Note

Often used as a countable noun with an article: a teleplay / the teleplay. Distinguish from sense 2 — this sense refers to the produced work as broadcast, whereas sense 2 refers to the written document the actors and crew work from.

Common Mistakes

I watched a teleplay about the war.' (when referring to the broadcast work — correct, but more natural to say 'TV drama' in everyday speech).
The station aired a teleplay based on the true story.
'teleplay' is more formal and industry-specific than 'TV show'.

2. the written document that contains all the dialogue, stage directions, and camer

2.nounC1
Definition

the written document that contains all the dialogue, stage directions, and camera instructions for a television drama, used by the cast and crew during filming

Example

Stefan spent three months writing the teleplay for a six-episode crime series.

teleplay + for [series]

The director asked the writer to rewrite the teleplay before filming began.

verb: rewrite the teleplay

Common collocations
  • write a teleplay
  • rewrite the teleplay
  • teleplay for [series/episode]
  • study a teleplay
  • read a teleplay
  • original teleplay
  • final teleplay
Synonyms
  • TV script

    more general term; 'teleplay' is more specialised

  • screenplay

    normally used for films; sometimes extended to TV

  • shooting script

    the version of the teleplay with camera directions added for the crew

Grammar Patterns

teleplay + for [series/episode]

write/rewrite + a teleplay

Usage Note

In the television industry, 'teleplay' in this sense is often used interchangeably with 'script', but 'teleplay' specifically refers to a script for a single dramatic programme rather than an ongoing series episode.

Common Mistakes

I bought the teleplay at the bookstore.' (when you mean the printed script of a TV show — acceptable, but 'published script' is clearer).
The university library keeps the original teleplays of classic BBC dramas.
teleplay refers to the working document used in production, not the final published version.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

Teleplay is a formal, industry-specific term for a dramatic story written to be broadcast on television. TV drama is the everyday equivalent used in general conversation — you would say 'I watched a great TV drama last night', not 'I watched a teleplay'. Television play is a slightly older expression, common in British English from the 1950s to 1980s, often referring to a single self-contained play (like a stage play adapted for TV). Drama series refers to a multi-episode narrative, whereas a teleplay is typically a one-off programme. For example: 'The BBC broadcast a teleplay by a new writer' (formal, one-off), versus 'The new drama series on Netflix has ten episodes' (ongoing, multiple parts).

teleplay ↗TV drama ↗television playdrama series

Common collocations

Nouns

  • teleplay writer
  • teleplay format
  • teleplay award
  • teleplay collection

Phrases

  • write a teleplay
  • broadcast a teleplay
  • adapt into a teleplay

Prepositions

Etymology

GreekEnglish

Teleplay is a blend of 'television' and 'play', coined in English in the mid-20th century as television became a medium for dramatic storytelling. The 'tele-' part comes from the Greek word tēle, meaning 'far off' or 'at a distance', while 'play' traces back to the Old English plega, meaning 'exercise, game, or drama'. The earliest known use of 'teleplay' dates from around 1953, when television networks began producing original dramas instead of simply broadcasting stage plays.

First known use

1947

1947, in the meaning defined above