(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.
For now, my attitude towards play-off music is, these people might not ever be on this stage again.
From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 11, 2026
Yang: I need us to really get on the same page about play-off music.
From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 11, 2026
Billed as the new poster boy for Bosnian football, the German-born winger has often been used as a substitute at international level, including both play-off ties, but started both friendlies before the World Cup.
From BBC • Jun. 9, 2026
With Russell still nursing an injury, Bath coach Johann van Graan decided the risks outweighed the rewards of throwing him in against Tigers with a play-off spot already secured.
From BBC • Jun. 8, 2026
The ideal way to break a tie is to have a play-off between the two players.
From "Endgame" by Frank Brady
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.
