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 Words From

• photo-finish adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of photo finish¹

First recorded in 1935–40

Example Sentences

Scientists behind the project say the reactor could come online by early 2026, setting up a photo finish with Commonwealth to be the first to launch a working fusion reactor.

From Singularity Hub 

Think of it as a horse race, with the participants fixing the result of a photo finish race.

From The Daily Beast

Santorum wins three states and is battling Romney to a photo finish in Ohio.

From The Daily Beast

Howard Kurtz on what the photo finish means for the Republican race.

From The Daily Beast

Farrakhan was and remains in a photo finish with David Duke and all other sanctimonious button-down primitives.

From The Daily Beast