repechage

American  

[rep-uh-shahzh] / ˌrɛp əˈʃɑʒ /

noun

repechages plural

1. (in cycling and rowing) a last-chance qualifying heat in which the runners-up in earlier heats race each other, with the winner advancing to the finals.

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repechage British  

/ ˌrɛpɪˈʃɑːʒ /

noun

1. a heat of a competition, esp in rowing or fencing, in which eliminated contestants have another chance to qualify for the next round or the final

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• repechages
  plural

Etymology

Origin of repechage

1925–30; < French repêchage second chance, equivalent to repêch ( er ) to fish up again ( re- re- + pêcher to fish; Middle French, Old French pescher < Vulgar Latin *piscāre, Latin piscārī, derivative of piscis fish ) + -age -age

Example Sentences

For the 1990s theme of their rhythm dance, they chose Depeche Mode, and their first official performance was promising.

From Barron's • Feb. 10, 2026

The band inspired word-of-mouth buzz from the beginning — a little more than a year after anonymously releasing their first song, Chvrches were opening for Depeche Mode.

From New York Times • Nov. 27, 2024

The main way they've communicated those years of their lives with us has been through music, much of which is deep cuts from first-wave bands like Depeche Mode, The Cars, The Talking Heads, and more.

From Salon • May 27, 2024

And his portraits of artists such as Ringo Starr, Iggy Pop, Peter Gabriel, REM, Depeche Mode and Queen, led the Guardian newspaper to name him photographer of the decade, in 1989.

From BBC • Jan. 30, 2024

Suddenly, the Depeche Mode cover band starts playing “Enjoy the Silence,” one of my favorite songs ever.

From "I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter" by Erika L. Sánchez