sudden death

noun

1

: unexpected death that is instantaneous or occurs within minutes from any cause other than violence

sudden death following coronary occlusion

2

: extra play to break a tie in a sports contest in which the first to score or gain the lead wins

Examples of sudden death in a Sentence

We won 27–24 in sudden death.

a serious heart condition that can result in sudden death

Recent Examples on the Web

If we're still tied after the first five, the penalties turn into rounds of sudden death. — Andrew Greif, NBC news, 30 June 2026

Paraguay then had two opportunities to win it but Antonio Sanabria (wide) and Fabian Balbuena (saved by Manuel Neuer) missed back-to-back penalties to take it to sudden death. — Elias Burke, New York Times, 30 June 2026

His shot was saved by a diving Neuer, knotting the PKs at three apiece, giving Germany extra life and dragging the shootout on into sudden death. — Kyle Feldscher, CNN Money, 29 June 2026

Here is everything to know about the infomercial legend’s sudden death. — Lynsey Eidell, PEOPLE, 28 June 2026

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for sudden death

• shibboleth
• beth
• breath
• heth
• lethe
• meth
• neath
• seth
• sheth
• sneath

Kids Definition

sudden death

noun

: extra play to break a tie in a sports contest in which the first to score or gain the lead wins

Medical Definition

sudden death

noun

: unexpected death that is instantaneous or occurs within minutes or hours from any cause other than violence

sudden death following coronary occlusion

especially : sudden cardiac death