Definitions

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

  • noun A final game or series of games played to break a tie.
  • noun A series of games played to determine a championship.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • noun A final game in a series needed to break a tie.
  • noun US A short series of games to select a league champion.

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

  • noun any final competition to determine a championship

Etymologies

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Examples

  • The authors are adamant that not only could bowl games continue to co-exist with a playoff, they argue that a playoff is actually necessary in order to save the bowl games.

    Brian Frederick: Death to the BCS? Here, Here! Brian Frederick 2010

  • The authors are adamant that not only could bowl games continue to co-exist with a playoff, they argue that a playoff is actually necessary in order to save the bowl games.

    Brian Frederick: Death to the BCS? Here, Here! Brian Frederick 2010

  • Cashman was asked if it was unfair that the first round of the playoff is a best-of-five series when the next two rounds are best-of-seven, and he only laughed.

    USATODAY.com - Yankees again under scrutiny 2006

  • For fans that believe a playoff is the only way to end the controversy, realize that there will always be controversy in the method of selecting teams, where to play and if it is the right way to select a champion.

    USATODAY.com - BCS is the best we have 2001

  • Sure, there are flaws, but without a playoff is there a better way?

    Feeling left out at Virginia Tech 1999

  • This is about football -- about two six-team divisions and a title playoff to share the spotlight on what has become championship Saturday.

    StarTribune.com rss feed 2009

  • This is about football -- about two six-team divisions and a title playoff to share the spotlight on what has become championship Saturday.

    StarTribune.com rss feed 2009

  • This is about football -- about two six-team divisions and a title playoff to share the spotlight on what has become championship Saturday.

    StarTribune.com rss feed 2009

  • He averaged 13.4 points on 32 percent shooting over his last seven playoff games, and criticized Atlanta fans who booed him and the team for the worst home loss in playoff history, a 105-75 rout in Game 3.

    Hawks face uncertain future after blowout loss 2010

  • Tony Romo, Dallas Cowboys: Must prove he can win playoff games and must do it without WR Terrell Owens.

    QB power rankings: There's Peyton, Tom and all the rest 2009

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