variants
or less commonly play-off
1
: a final contest, series of contests, or period of play to determine the winner between contestants or teams that have tied
a golf tournament decided by an 18-hole playoff
a sudden-death playoff
2
: a series of contests played after the end of the regular season to determine a championship
—usually plural except when used before another noun
Will you watch the playoffs?
got tickets to a playoff game
played off; playing off; plays off
1
a
: to set in opposition for one's own gain
b
: to set in contrast
2
: to complete the playing of (an interrupted contest)
3
: to break (a tie) by a playoff
Examples of playoff in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Grace Tucker, Cincinnati Enquirer, 30 Sep. 2025
Baltimore's next two games against the Houston Texans and Los Angeles Rams will likely go a long way toward determining if the Ravens are a legit playoff contender or not.
—Hunter Simpson, MSNBC Newsweek, 29 Sep. 2025
Jeremy Repanich, Robb Report, 27 Sep. 2025
In June, played off his accidental gender reveal while speaking to Entertainment Tonight at the Brussels premiere of the Smurfs movie Rihanna stars in.
—Heran Mamo, Billboard, 24 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for playoff
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Noun
Photos from the Cincinnati Reds' celebration after clinching a playoff spot.
—Grace Tucker, Cincinnati Enquirer, 30 Sep. 2025
Baltimore's next two games against the Houston Texans and Los Angeles Rams will likely go a long way toward determining if the Ravens are a legit playoff contender or not.
—Hunter Simpson, MSNBC Newsweek, 29 Sep. 2025
Verb
The golden liqueur plays off the spirit like sun off snow, bringing some herbal warmth through the bracing chill.
—Jeremy Repanich, Robb Report, 27 Sep. 2025
In June, played off his accidental gender reveal while speaking to Entertainment Tonight at the Brussels premiere of the Smurfs movie Rihanna stars in.
—Heran Mamo, Billboard, 24 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for playoff
Cite this Entry
“Playoff.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/playoff. Accessed 2 Oct. 2025.
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