Screenwriter

ˈskriːtˌraɪtər

nounmedium📊CommonProfession
1 meaning1 idiom/phrase2 questions

Definitions

1

A person who writes the script for a movie, television show, or other visual media.

ˈskriːtˌraɪtər

nounneutralmedium
Profession

A person who writes screenplays for films or television shows.

The successful film was the result of collaboration between the director and the screenwriter.

💡 Simply: Imagine a storyteller who writes down the movie plot, the characters' words, and what's happening on the screen. That's a screenwriter!

👶 For kids: Someone who writes the words and story for movies and TV shows!

More Examples

2

She is a talented screenwriter known for her original ideas and compelling characters.

3

The studio hired a new screenwriter to revise the script and make it more appealing to audiences.

How It's Used

Film industry

"The screenwriter's job is to bring the story to life through dialogue and scenes."

Television industry

"The new television show's success depended on the quality of the screenwriter's work."

Synonyms & Antonyms

Synonyms

Idioms & expressions

Writer's block

A condition where a writer loses the ability to produce new work or experiences a creative slowdown.

"The screenwriter suffered from writer's block and was unable to finish the script."

From "screen" (referring to a movie or television screen) + "writer". It emerged in the early 20th century with the rise of the film industry, replacing earlier terms like "scenarist".

The term 'screenwriter' gained prominence in the early 20th century with the rise of Hollywood. Before this the term 'scenarist' was often used.

Memory tip

Think of someone using a screen to write, crafting stories.

Word Origin

LanguageEnglish
Original meaning

"To form letters or characters on a surface"

talented screenwriterexperienced screenwriterfreelance screenwriterhired screenwriter

Common misspellings

screen writerscreen-writerscreanwriter

Usage

10%Spoken
90%Written