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

Derived Forms

• sudden-death
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of sudden death

First recorded in 1825–35

Example Sentences

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

Tributes poured in following the announcement of Busch's sudden death.

From BBC • May 21, 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

She presents her daughter’s sudden death in crisp, often tart prose that cannot mask the ache that lurks beneath the surface.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 8, 2026

In my hand I held the tract containing the sudden death of the Liar, to which narrative my attention had been pointed as to an appropriate warning.

From "Jane Eyre" by Charlotte Brontë