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

He took over the family business in 1977 at age 17 after his father’s sudden death.

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Once his heart had stopped, they made a preliminary diagnosis later cited by authorities and the Kremlin: sudden death syndrome.

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At a small table in the middle of Hollywood’s Sightglass Coffee, the conversation about the AFI vocalist’s possible sudden death has drawn the eyes of coffee drinkers in the surrounding area.

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"The family is shocked by the tragic, sudden death of such a lovely down to earth man" the tribute added, as the family asked for privacy to grieve.

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Police are investigating the circumstances surrounding a sudden death in County Fermanagh.

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