play-off
noun
(in competitive sports) the playing of an extra game, rounds, innings, etc., in order to settle a tie.
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play-off
American
[pley-awf, -of]
/ ˈpleɪˌɔf, -ˌɒf /
noun
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(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.
play off
British
verb
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to deal with or manipulate as if in playing a game
to play one person off against another
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(intr) to take part in a play-off
noun
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sport an extra contest to decide the winner when two or more competitors are tied
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a contest or series of games to determine a championship, as between the winners of two competitions
play off
Idioms
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See under play both ends against the middle .
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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 .
Etymology
Origin of play-off
First recorded in 1890–95; noun use of verb phrase play off
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
Jakirovic guided Hull to a play-off win against a Millwall side who finished three places and 10 points above them, before Oli McBurnie's last-gasp winner against Middlesbrough secured top-flight football.
From BBC ● Sep. 5, 2026
Harwood-Bellis apologised for making a binoculars gesture during their play-off semi-final second leg victory over Middlesbrough.
From BBC ● Sep. 1, 2026
After taking over at Derby in 2018, the former Chelsea midfielder led them to the Championship play-off final, where they lost to Aston Villa.
From BBC ● Aug. 29, 2026
Rangers, who held a 1-0 lead going into the second leg of the play-off in Czech Republic, lost 4-3 on penalties on Thursday to crash out of Europe completely.
From BBC ● Aug. 27, 2026
I was planning to make some microwave popcorn and watch a National League play-off game on TV.
From "Doing Time Online" by Jan Siebold
Some play off a character’s propriety, all profit from the actor’s charm — which might be turned to evil ends but remain, for the viewer, you know, charming.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 27, 2026
It doesn’t help that the vice presidents constantly runs down his wife in speeches, comments he tries to play off as jokes, but which are too hard-edged to sell as jovial.
From Salon ● Jul. 29, 2026
There’s a difference, as one might expect, watching the newcomers interact and witnessing seasoned performers like Messrs. Simmons and Welliver play off each other.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 10, 2026
As England try to get their game right on the pitch, the games they play off the field are performing a key role in team bonding.
From BBC ● Jun. 26, 2026
European microorganisms were slow to penetrate the Yucatan Peninsula, where most of the Maya polities were too small to readily play off against each other.
From "1491" by Charles C. Mann
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.
