sudden death

noun

Sports.

1. an overtime period in which a tied contest is won and play is stopped immediately after one of the contestants scores, as in football, or goes ahead, as in golf.

sudden death

noun

1. (in sports, etc) an extra game or contest to decide the winner of a tied competition

2. an unexpected or quick death

Other Word Forms

• sudden-death adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of sudden death¹

First recorded in 1825–35

Example Sentences

They have also had to deal with tragedy off the pitch following the sudden deaths of former manager Matt Beard and kit man Jonathan Humble.

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Samia, the soft-spoken leader whose calm and gentle demeanour, initially inspired optimism when she assumed power in 2021 after the sudden death in office of her authoritarian predecessor, John Magufuli.

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The virus replicates rapidly and can attack the heart and sometimes the brain, often causing sudden death.

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"Gurvinder Johal's sudden death as he went about his everyday business left a family in mourning and a community in shock," she said.

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Spanish police confirmed Friday that their probe into the sudden death last year of Mango clothing empire founder Isak Andic remains open following reports his son has become a suspect.

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