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video game

video game

277 1.0
A game you play by controlling pictures on a screen
  • noun
  • /ˈvɪdioʊ ɡeɪm/
translation icon : videojuego
  • Parents took for granted that their children played video games in their leisure time.
  • play video games
  • buy a video game
  • video game player

No is the very first video game ever made is pong.

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Examples

  • Many children prefer video games to outdoor activities during their free time.

  • And I play video games myself right now.

  • His favorite activity is playing video games.

  • Make no mistake about it; video games can be a great use of free time.

    Academic text (2011)
  • I had recently started playing the video game Sea of Thieves.

  • Research shows that kids who play video games develop better spatial skills and hand-eye coordination.

    Academic text (2011)
  • On weekends, I enjoy playing video games with my friends online.

  • This new video game has stunning graphics and engaging gameplay that keeps players entertained.

Synonyms

game
vsvideo game
1.0

An activity with rules that people play for fun or competition

is the specific electronic screen activity played by controlling on-screen images
computer game
vsvideo game
28 2.0

A game played on a computer for fun or competition

is the broader electronic screen entertainment beyond only computer play
arcade game
vsvideo game
8 3.1

A video game with short, fast levels and simple controls that gets harder

is the general electronic screen entertainment across many devices not only machines
minigame
vsvideo game
  • Jargon
2 3.4

A small simple game inside a larger video game or app

is broader electronic screen entertainment rather than a tiny simple play
basketball game
vsvideo game
1 2.8

A video game that lets you play basketball on a computer, console, or phone

is general screen entertainment not limited to sporting simulations
viddy game
vsvideo game
  • Slang
9.6

A game you play on a computer or game console

is the neutral common term used in general contexts
arcade video game
vsvideo game
2.7

A fast game that needs quick reflexes, with short levels, simple controls and rising difficulty

is broader electronic screen entertainment not limited to reflex-focused styles

How Complex

video game
277 1.0

Surface Forms

video game singular
video games plural

Morphology

video + game

The meaning 'an electronic game played by controlling images on a screen' is directly derivable from combining 'video' (moving images) with 'game' (a recreational contest); a B1 learner who knows both constituents will infer it refers to a game involving video/images on a screen. Noun–noun compounding of this type is common in English and other languages, so the relation is fully compositional and immediately comprehensible.

Etymology

Video game comes from joining video (moving pictures on a screen) and game (play or competition). Because people controlled the moving pictures to play, the name came to mean 'an electronic game played on a screen'.