tiebreaker

American  

[tahy-brey-ker] / ˈtaɪˌbreɪ kər /

Often tiebreak

noun

1. a system for breaking a tie score at the end of regulation play by establishing a winner through special additional play, usually of a fairly short duration, as in tennis and soccer.

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Etymology

Origin of tiebreaker

First recorded in 1960–65; tie + breaker ¹

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

tiebreaker

The scoring format, designed to shorten matches in the first three rounds, features sets to four games, with a tiebreaker at 4-all and a 10-point tiebreaker instead of a third set.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 26, 2026

But on this day, they had to try to deliver victory in a California tiebreaker, with the ball placed on the 50-yard and the team that advanced the ball farthest after alternating plays wins.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 23, 2026

After seizing control in the first-set tiebreaker, Fritz roared to a 3-0 lead with a pair of service breaks in the second.

From Barron's ● Aug. 3, 2026

For the first time at a World Cup, Fifa is using head-to-head records instead of group goal difference as the primary tiebreaker for teams level on points.

From BBC ● Jun. 19, 2026

She’s good like Sneaky, and they both win a game before Sneaky takes the tiebreaker.

From "Isaiah Dunn Is My Hero" by Kelly J. Baptist