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
Verhaeghe had the winning goal in sudden death OT Tuesday, but Bobrovsky won the game.
—
Greg Cote, Miami Herald, 24 Apr. 2024
The sudden death of Premier Li Keqiang last fall has left Xi with no rivals within the party.
—Evan S. Medeiros, Foreign Affairs, 23 Apr. 2024
See all Example Sentences for sudden death 
Greg Cote, Miami Herald, 24 Apr. 2024
The sudden death of Premier Li Keqiang last fall has left Xi with no rivals within the party.
—Evan S. Medeiros, Foreign Affairs, 23 Apr. 2024
See all Example Sentences for sudden death
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'sudden death.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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Cite this Entry
“Sudden death.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sudden%20death. Accessed 4 May. 2024.
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