dead heat

American  

noun

1. a race in which two or more competitors finish in a tie.

2. the result of such a race; tie.

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dead heat British  

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

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dead heat Idioms  

1. 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.

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Etymology

Origin of dead heat

First recorded in 1790–1800

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

dead heat

So far in 2026 these two asset classes are in a dead heat.

From MarketWatch ● Sep. 2, 2026

“It’s a dead heat on Kalshi,” one user wrote on social media.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 16, 2026

Fujimori, on the other hand, said the result showed a "dead heat" and that there will be long "days ahead" to declare a winner.

From BBC ● Jun. 8, 2026

The most recent survey put the CDU and the Greens in a dead heat on 28 percent.

From Barron's ● Mar. 8, 2026

They covered me with squares of flannel in the dead heat of summer.

From "Dreaming in Cuban" by Cristina García