repechage

noun

re·​pe·​chage ˌre-pə-ˈshäzh How to pronounce repechage (audio)
ˈre-pə-ˌshäzh
: a trial heat (as in rowing) in which first-round losers are given another chance to qualify for the semifinals

Examples of repechage in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
In essence, the repechage system in these events means all is not lost if you are drawn against the top competitors early on. NBC News, 9 Aug. 2024 Men’s discus qualification, 4:10 a.m. Women’s pole vault qualification, 4:40 a.m. Women’s 400-m hurdles repechages, 4:50 a.m. Bychris Morris, Fortune, 5 Aug. 2024 Up next: Azerbaijan vs. Australia, Aug. 2 at 3:30 a.m. Margaret Hedeman, rowing CT connection: Yale Team USA won the women’s eight repechage in a time of 6:03.93 to advance to Final A. Emily Adams, Hartford Courant, 1 Aug. 2024 Men’s 400-m repechages, 5:20 a.m. Women’s 400-m Round 1, 5:55 a.m. Women’s 200-m repechages, 6:50 a.m. Bychris Morris, Fortune, 5 Aug. 2024 Team USA won the women’s eight repechage in a time of 6:03.93 to advance to Final A. Emily Adams, Hartford Courant, 1 Aug. 2024 Her repechage heat is scheduled to start at 5:20 p.m. MT. The Salt Lake Tribune, 23 July 2021 Livach — who had to win a repechage a few minutes earlier — was obviously tiring. Tim Creason, The Indianapolis Star, 8 Aug. 2021 After losing to Japan by one run in the 10th inning in their first game out of pool play, Team USA had to battle back to win a repechage game over the Dominican Republic and a semifinal over Korea. Julie Jag, The Salt Lake Tribune, 6 Aug. 2021

Word History

Etymology

French repêchage second chance, reexamination for a candidate who has failed, from repêcher to fish out, rescue, from re- + pêcher to fish, from Latin piscari — more at piscatory

First Known Use

1899, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of repechage was in 1899

Dictionary Entries Near repechage

Cite this Entry

“Repechage.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/repechage. Accessed 26 Nov. 2024.

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!