dead heat

noun

1. a race in which two or more competitors finish in a tie.
2. the result of such a race; tie.

dead heat

noun

1. 1. a race or contest in which two or more participants tie for first place
   2. a tie between two or more contestants in any position

Word History and Origins

Origin of dead heat¹

First recorded in 1790–1800

Idioms and Phrases

A contest in which the competitors are equally matched and neither can win; a tie. For example, The two companies are in a dead heat to get a new personal computer on the market . This term comes from 18th-century British horse racing and is still part of racing terminology. It later was transferred to other kinds of competition.