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
This fourth season was the series’ most ambitious, both in its set pieces (shoot-outs, car chases) and in its interrogation of what its characters value and love, and if Dark Winds can keep mixing up the flavor of Leaphorn and Chee’s foes, its forecast looks good.
—Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 4 May 2026
On multiple occasions, Brighton players were on the turf seconds before a set piece, but gained no sympathy from referee Chris Kavanagh.
—Anantaajith Raghuraman, New York Times, 4 May 2026
The Legacy capitalized on a set piece as the Summit couldn’t initially clear a corner after the ball was headed toward the goal.
—Greg Dudek, Boston Herald, 3 May 2026
But leading up to The Devil Wears Prada 2 (now in theaters), production designer Jess Gonchor knew the set pieces seen in the iconic 2006 blockbuster needed an aesthetic facelift—from the Runway magazine offices to our heroine’s apartment to the climactic overseas hot spot.
—Mara Reinstein, Architectural Digest, 1 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for set piece
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Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 4 May 2026
On multiple occasions, Brighton players were on the turf seconds before a set piece, but gained no sympathy from referee Chris Kavanagh.
—Anantaajith Raghuraman, New York Times, 4 May 2026
The Legacy capitalized on a set piece as the Summit couldn’t initially clear a corner after the ball was headed toward the goal.
—Greg Dudek, Boston Herald, 3 May 2026
But leading up to The Devil Wears Prada 2 (now in theaters), production designer Jess Gonchor knew the set pieces seen in the iconic 2006 blockbuster needed an aesthetic facelift—from the Runway magazine offices to our heroine’s apartment to the climactic overseas hot spot.
—Mara Reinstein, Architectural Digest, 1 May 2026
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 6 May. 2026.
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