postseason

noun

post·​sea·​son ˈpōs(t)-ˌsē-zᵊn 

plural postseasons

US, sports

: a period of time immediately after the regular season when teams play against each other in a series of games to determine a champion

NFL fans have been complaining that the 2016 postseason is the worst in history.

—Michael Salfino

The teams will face each other in the postseason.

—often used before another noun

a postseason game/victory

their postseason record

Examples of postseason in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The Rays, meanwhile, may be leading the American League East, but their postseason outlook is not as grandiose as Los Angeles. — John Romano, The Orlando Sentinel, 4 Aug. 2026

But Hoyer needed two starters for the postseason to go along with Matthew Boyd, Shota Imanaga, Edward Cabrera and David Peterson, and can live with his decision. — Paul Sullivan, Chicago Tribune, 4 Aug. 2026

With six postseason spots per league rather than four, the net gains in playoff contention outweigh the dilution of the divisional races. — Tom Krasovic, San Diego Union-Tribune, 3 Aug. 2026

Or maybe, for once in their franchise history, the vagaries of postseason baseball will tilt in their favor. — Andy McCullough, New York Times, 2 Aug. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1893, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for postseason

• milesian
• partizan
• preseason
• unreason
• reason
• season
• seizin
• treason