noun
playoff
noun
1
An extra game played to settle a tie between competitors.
"The match ended level, so it went to a playoff."
2
A series of games held to decide a champion or determine promotion.
"The team clinched a spot in the playoffs after a strong final month."
"Missing the playoffs was a huge disappointment for the fans."
How to Use Playoff
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA deciding game, or a series of games, held to settle who wins or advances.
Common pairings
playoff spot
playoff game
make the playoffs
Word Forms
playoffs plural
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The match ended level, so it went to a _____.
Etymology
A noun formed from the phrasal verb play off.