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
Edward Lee, Baltimore Sun, 20 May 2025
Headbutt The first playoff meeting between the teams came in the first round of the 1993 postseason.
—Brian Mahoney, Chicago Tribune, 19 May 2025
Sophia Beams, Better Homes & Gardens, 22 May 2025
May 15, 2025 The winner for comedic effect Wednesday night was the Chicago Bears playing off the common name of new coach Ben Johnson, featuring Emmy Award-winning actor and comedian Lamorne Morris.
—Schuyler Dixon, Chicago Tribune, 15 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for playoff
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Noun
From February 2000 to July 2004, Smith ran the Columbus Crew, which advanced to the MLS playoff quarterfinals in 2001 and semifinals in 2002.
—Edward Lee, Baltimore Sun, 20 May 2025
Headbutt The first playoff meeting between the teams came in the first round of the 1993 postseason.
—Brian Mahoney, Chicago Tribune, 19 May 2025
Verb
The brown-red tones of the floors play off the warm green walls, and gold finishes complete the earthy transformation in the room.
—Sophia Beams, Better Homes & Gardens, 22 May 2025
May 15, 2025 The winner for comedic effect Wednesday night was the Chicago Bears playing off the common name of new coach Ben Johnson, featuring Emmy Award-winning actor and comedian Lamorne Morris.
—Schuyler Dixon, Chicago Tribune, 15 May 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 29 May. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share