pick-six

noun

ˈpik-ˈsiks 

1

: a system of betting (as on horse races) in which the bettor must pick the winners of six consecutive races

… is one of 42 individuals holding the 78 tickets that legitimately had five out of six winners in the Breeders' Cup pick-six wager.

—Bill Finley

2

American football : an interception returned by the intercepting team for a touchdown

By halftime he had thrown two interceptions—the second a 69-yard pick-six to outside linebacker and Most Valuable Player Malcolm Smith …

—S. L. Price

Examples of pick-six in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Indiana's Heisman winning quarterback Fernando Mendoza threw a pick-six early in the fourth quarter that tied the game at 20 but Indiana's offense clawed back in front. —American-Statesman Staff, Austin American Statesman, 7 Jan. 2026

Ohio State’s Julian Sayin threw two interceptions — one was a pick-six returned by Keionte Scott, and the second was the game-sealing interception by Jakobe Thomas. —Adam Lichtenstein, Sun Sentinel, 7 Jan. 2026

The Broncos’ only trip to the end zone came on a first-half pick-six. —The Athletic Nfl Staff, New York Times, 5 Jan. 2026

Miami led 14-0 at halftime on a Beck touchdown pass to Fletcher and a Scott pick-six. —Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 1 Jan. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1980, in the meaning defined at sense 1