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

A similar ovation came more than 90 minutes later after Williams clinched a tiebreaker to win the second set and force a third.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 30, 2026

The buzz: Germany scored 10 goals in the group stage, but the four-time tournament champions lost to Ecuador and had to rely on a tiebreaker to win the group over the Ivory Coast.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 28, 2026

But with 32 of the 48 teams advancing to the knockout rounds, new tiebreaker rules, and a table of third-placed teams to keep track of, staying across the various permutations is far from simple.

From BBC ● Jun. 24, 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