(in competitive sports) the playing of an extra game, rounds, innings, etc., in order to settle a tie.
a series of games or matches, as between the leading teams of two leagues, in order to decide a championship.
In America the most exciting play-off is the World Series.
to deal with or manipulate as if in playing a game
to play one person off against another
(intr) to take part in a play-off
sport an extra contest to decide the winner when two or more competitors are tied
a contest or series of games to determine a championship, as between the winners of two competitions
See under play both ends against the middle .
Break a tie by playing an additional game or period, as in Each team had won three games so they had to play off the tie to decide the championship .
First recorded in 1890–95; noun use of verb phrase play off
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
The Tigers returned to the top flight by beating Middlesbrough 1-0 in the Championship play-off final in May, earning guaranteed riches of about £200m.
From BBC • Jul. 1, 2026
After a video of Italian players allegedly celebrating the fact that they would face Bosnia instead of Wales in the play-off final went viral, Dzeko showed his leadership qualities.
From BBC • Jun. 12, 2026
The 2014 World Cup in Brazil proved to be the first and last for Bosnia's so-called golden generation, as play-off heartbreak struck again for Euro 2016, 2020 and 2024.
From BBC • Jun. 12, 2026
Yang: I need us to really get on the same page about play-off music.
From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 11, 2026
‘One time in the middle of a play-off game I had to splint a quarterback’s leg with nothing but tree branches and strapping tape.’
From "Blood of Olympus" by Rick Riordan
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
