photo finish

American  

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.

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photo finish British  

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

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Other Word Forms

• photo-finish adjective

Etymology

Origin of photo finish

First recorded in 1935–40

Example Sentences

Their ticket purchases pushed “Iron Lung” into a photo finish for No. 1 against “Send Help,” a strongly marketed release from Disney’s 20th Century Studios.

From The Wall Street Journal

After finishing second to Delta in a photo finish for 2024’s rankings, Southwest this time won by a wide margin, and ended Delta’s four-year winning streak.

From The Wall Street Journal

Redknapp and Pauling as well as jockey Ben Jones spent a nervy few miniutes waiting on the photo finish before his number eight was called -- winning by just a nose.

From Barron's

Analysts say the outcome could be a photo finish.

From The Wall Street Journal

In a photo finish for the NL’s final wild card berth, all the Reds needed was a win against the Milwaukee Brewers, or a Mets loss.

From Los Angeles Times