shootout

[shoot-out]

noun

1. a gunfight that must end in defeat for one side or the other, as between gunfighters in the Old West, criminal groups, or law-enforcement officers and criminals.

2. Slang.,  any military conflict or skirmish.

3. Slang.,  a high-scoring or intensely played game or tournament, as of basketball or ice hockey.

4. Soccer.,  a method of breaking a tie score at the end of overtime in which five players from each team alternate shooting at the opponent's goal, starting from a spot 35 yards (39 meters) from the goal line, in an attempt to kick the ball past the rival goalkeeper in under five seconds.

Word History and Origins

Origin of shootout¹

1945–50; noun use of verb phrase shoot ( it ) out to settle a dispute with firearms

Example Sentences

Last season they lost out only narrowly to the eventual winners in a penalty shootout.

From BBC

Prepare for an offensive shootout on Lincoln’s new turf field.

From Los Angeles Times

And that is where they entered into a shootout with Mr Phillips.

From BBC

But what about the full-throated collective cheers that greeted Lagergren's marginally pulled approach that did find the drink on the third and decisive hole of the shootout?

From BBC

KS: In the quarter-final penalty shootout against Sweden, you weren't one of the first penalty takers.

From BBC

Related Words

• bout