showrunner

noun

show·​run·​ner ˈshō-ˌrə-nər How to pronounce showrunner (audio)
variants or less commonly show-runner or show runner
plural showrunners also show-runners or show runners
: a person who oversees the writing and production of each episode of a television series and has ultimate managerial and creative control over the series
A showrunner is more than just a producer. … They are making decisions about casting, story arcs, as well as the day-to-day issues of getting a show done and ready for air.G. Michael Dobbs

Examples of showrunner in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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Creator and showrunner Meaghan Oppenheimer stopped by Screen Gab this week to unpack the friend drama. Maira Garcia, Los Angeles Times, 6 Feb. 2026 The series hails from co-showrunners Bill Lawrence (Ted Lasso, Shrinking, Bad Monkey) and Matt Tarses. Dessi Gomez, Deadline, 5 Feb. 2026 In an interview with EW, showrunner Jacob Tierney spoke about his affection for the ending of Reid's Heated Rivalry, the second book in her series and the one on which season 1 is mostly based. Randall Colburn, Entertainment Weekly, 5 Feb. 2026 The trio joined showrunner, creator and executive producer Annie Weisman, who moderated their panel in front of 300 journalists, influencers and content creators, in what marked the first lengthy chat about the eight-episode series. Chris Gardner, HollywoodReporter, 4 Feb. 2026 See All Example Sentences for showrunner

Word History

First Known Use

1989, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of showrunner was in 1989

Cite this Entry

“Showrunner.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/showrunner. Accessed 15 Feb. 2026.

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