photo finish

noun

Sports.

1. a finish of a race in which two or more contestants are so close to the finish line that reference to a photograph of the finish is necessary to determine the winner.

photo finish

noun

1. a finish of a race in which contestants are so close that a photograph is needed to decide the result

2. any race or competition in which the winners or placed contestants are separated by a very small margin

Other Word Forms

• photo-finish adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of photo finish¹

First recorded in 1935–40