variants
or less commonly play-off
1
: a final contest, series of contests, or period of play to determine the winner between contestants or teams that have tied
a golf tournament decided by an 18-hole playoff
a sudden-death playoff
2
: a series of contests played after the end of the regular season to determine a championship
—usually plural except when used before another noun
Will you watch the playoffs?
got tickets to a playoff game
played off; playing off; plays off
1
a
: to set in opposition for one's own gain
b
: to set in contrast
2
: to complete the playing of (an interrupted contest)
3
: to break (a tie) by a playoff
Examples of playoff in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Trent Reinsmith, Forbes.com, 3 Apr. 2025
The Senators’ chances of making the playoffs remain high with eight games remaining.
—Julian McKenzie, New York Times, 2 Apr. 2025
Scott Wheeler, The Athletic, 25 Mar. 2025
Having all the survivors back together in one place is fun, and watching these four actresses play off of one another is always a treat.
—Erin Qualey, Vulture, 21 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for playoff
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Noun
In the past, fighters earned points in two regular-season bouts, with the highest point earners moving onto the playoffs.
—Trent Reinsmith, Forbes.com, 3 Apr. 2025
The Senators’ chances of making the playoffs remain high with eight games remaining.
—Julian McKenzie, New York Times, 2 Apr. 2025
Verb
He’s got soft hands and makes a lot of plays off his backhand.
—Scott Wheeler, The Athletic, 25 Mar. 2025
Having all the survivors back together in one place is fun, and watching these four actresses play off of one another is always a treat.
—Erin Qualey, Vulture, 21 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for playoff
Cite this Entry
“Playoff.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/playoff. Accessed 6 Apr. 2025.
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