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

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

From Barron's • Mar. 8, 2026

Polymarket, the prediction platform, shows Paramount and Netflix are in a dead heat to close a transaction by the end of June 2027, with around a 42% chance each.

From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 10, 2025

One recent poll showed it as a virtual dead heat, with Van Epps clinging to a narrow two point lead.

From Slate • Dec. 2, 2025

The latest controversy adds to a list which includes sinkings, crashes, mutinies, and the controversial 1877 dead heat, when the result was decided in court.

From BBC • Apr. 11, 2025

The dead heat of summer in farmland almost kills her.

From "A Heart in a Body in the World" by Deb Caletti