sudden death

noun

1

: unexpected death that is instantaneous or occurs within minutes from any cause other than violence

sudden death following coronary occlusion

2

: extra play to break a tie in a sports contest in which the first to score or gain the lead wins

Examples of sudden death in a Sentence

We won 27–24 in sudden death.

a serious heart condition that can result in sudden death

Recent Examples on the Web

And if the match is still tied at that point, penalty kicks resume but in a sudden death format. — Andrew Greif, NBC news, 28 June 2026

Gillespie and Pozo created an enduring body of work before Pozo’s sudden death in 1948. — George Varga, San Diego Union-Tribune, 26 June 2026

Here's everything to know about his life today, 17 years after Michael Jackson's sudden death. — Emily Blackwood, PEOPLE, 24 June 2026

The avatar on Bonsu Baah’s Instagram page is a photograph of his mother, whose sudden death four years ago triggered a change in his thinking. — Simon Hughes, New York Times, 23 June 2026

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for sudden death

• shibboleth
• beth
• breath
• heth
• lethe
• meth
• neath
• seth
• sheth
• sneath

Kids Definition

sudden death

noun

: extra play to break a tie in a sports contest in which the first to score or gain the lead wins

Medical Definition

sudden death

noun

: unexpected death that is instantaneous or occurs within minutes or hours from any cause other than violence

sudden death following coronary occlusion

especially : sudden cardiac death