tiebreaker

noun

tie·​break·​er ˈtī-ˌbrā-kər How to pronounce tiebreaker (audio)
plural tiebreakers
1
: an additional contest or period of play used to select a winner when a competition or part of a competition ends in a tie
… after a 90-minute rain delay in the third set, won a riveting tiebreaker.L. Jon Wertheim

called also tiebreak

2
: a person whose vote breaks a tie
The vice president served as a tiebreaker in the last senate vote.
3
: a final vote, point, or score that determines the winner in a contest
She cast the tiebreaker.

Examples of tiebreaker 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.
Restrictions: Drivers and teams using the OEP will not be eligible for race points, playoff points, prize money, or tiebreaker benefits based on their finishing position. Greg Engle, Forbes, 10 Jan. 2025 If that regular-season finale (Game No. 272) ends in a draw between the Lions and the Vikings, then the tiebreaker for the NFC North title and No. 1 seed will be based on whether the Lions win or lose this game against the 49ers. Cam Inman, The Mercury News, 31 Dec. 2024 After the finale ended in another tie vote (just like season 1!) between Love & Hip Hop star Safaree and The Challenge alum Wes Bergmann, the power of casting the tiebreaker vote fell to zero-vote finalist/Big Brother vet Jessie Godderz. EW.com, 20 Dec. 2024 The Raiders and Giants are both 2-12, and if both teams lose out, the tiebreaker deciding which team receives the number-one overall pick comes down to their strength of schedule. Ryan Canfield, Fox News, 19 Dec. 2024 See all Example Sentences for tiebreaker 

Word History

First Known Use

1904, in the meaning defined at sense 3

Time Traveler
The first known use of tiebreaker was in 1904

Dictionary Entries Near tiebreaker

Cite this Entry

“Tiebreaker.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tiebreaker. Accessed 18 Jan. 2025.

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