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
Scott Thompson, FOXNews.com, 13 Oct. 2025
During those 14 seasons with non-California teams, Gandy played in 203 games (207 if playoffs are included) and only 15 of those games—about 7%—were in California.
—Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 13 Oct. 2025
Stacia Datskovska, Footwear News, 10 Oct. 2025
Yet Leto never shakes the role’s robotic nature, even as his character strives to become more human, and his acting partners struggle to play off that in a meaningful way.
—David Sims, The Atlantic, 10 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for playoff
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Noun
Clark revealed this summer what she and Swift were seen whispering about in a suite during the Chiefs’ playoff game against the Houston Texans back in January.
—Scott Thompson, FOXNews.com, 13 Oct. 2025
During those 14 seasons with non-California teams, Gandy played in 203 games (207 if playoffs are included) and only 15 of those games—about 7%—were in California.
—Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 13 Oct. 2025
Verb
Go with the Pleated Denim Mini Skirt, whose 100-percent regenerative cotton is not only good for the planet but will be able to play off your button-ups, cardigans, and even sweatshirts marvelously well.
—Stacia Datskovska, Footwear News, 10 Oct. 2025
Yet Leto never shakes the role’s robotic nature, even as his character strives to become more human, and his acting partners struggle to play off that in a meaningful way.
—David Sims, The Atlantic, 10 Oct. 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 17 Oct. 2025.
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