sudden death

American  

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.

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sudden death British  

noun

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

2. an unexpected or quick death

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Other Word Forms

• sudden-death
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of sudden death

First recorded in 1825–35

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

sudden death

A third-act twist or sudden death can change a viewer’s overall perception of a movie in an instant.

From Salon ● Jun. 10, 2026

During the panel discussion at Hay Festival, Victoria Smurfit, who plays Maud O'Hara in Rivals, recalled the moment the cast and crew found out about Dame Jilly's sudden death.

From BBC ● May 25, 2026

County medical examiner raises new questions about the sudden death of 12-year-old Khimberly Zavaleta Chuquipa.

From Los Angeles Times ● May 19, 2026

An abrupt removal of Castro, or his sudden death, could also spark an internal struggle for power.

From The Wall Street Journal ● May 16, 2026

And despite her misgivings about the religious ramifications, Emma not only agreed she would publish this draft in case of his sudden death, she also helped him make it better.

From "Charles and Emma: The Darwins' Leap of Faith" by Deborah Heiligman