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point spread

noun

  1. a betting device, established by oddsmakers and used to attract bettors for uneven competitions, indicating the estimated number of points by which a stronger team can be expected to defeat a weaker team, the point spread being added to the weaker team's actual points in the game and this new figure then compared to the stronger team's points to determine winning bets.


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Word History and Origins

Origin of point spread1

An Americanism dating back to 1950–55
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Example Sentences

When the point spread has been 10 points or less, as it has been in 16 games, the economy grew 2.4 percent on average.

But in the 11 games when the point spread was 20 points or more, the economy grew an average of 3.5 percent per year.

It was a six point spread between McCain and Obama in the election: between 58 and 59 million people voted against the Democrats.

It was a pleasant diversion to get out of the level valley, which at this point spread out some miles back to the bluffs.

Peter's thoughts still hovered about old Rose, and from that point spread to the whole system of colored service in the South.

Southward to the point spread lands owned by the parish, and known as the common pasture.

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