point spread

noun

: the number of points by which an oddsmaker expects a favorite to defeat an underdog

Examples of point spread in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Having given up on the prospect of a big payday, my wife was now focused on the more immediately visible consequences of my gambling—like the fact that our 7-year-old daughter knew the difference between a point spread and a moneyline. —Mckay Coppins, The Atlantic, 12 Mar. 2026

The line on such contracts will move based on the number of users picking either side of the contracts, much like a sportsbook will adjust a point spread in an effort to get half of its bettors on either side of the line. —Johnny Kampis, Oc Register, 6 Feb. 2026

If the point spread stays at Seattle by 4 1/2, New England winning would be the biggest Super Bowl betting-line upset since the 2017 season, when the Brady/Belichick-era Patriots were favored by the same number and Philly won outright. —Miami Herald, 5 Feb. 2026

Getty Images Forget the point spread, the anytime touchdown scorer, or the color of the Gatorade, the most popular Super Bowl 60 bet is the coin flip. —Darren Cooper, Forbes.com, 28 Jan. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1941, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for point spread

• abed
• ahead
• beachhead
• bedspread
• bedstead
• behead
• blackhead
• blockhead
• bloodshed
• bowhead
• breastfed
• bridgehead