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
Dj Siddiqi, Forbes.com, 15 Sep. 2025
Known for her ability to unlock opponents’ midfields and draw fouls in advantageous positions, DeMelo has also proven herself critical to Racing Louisville, which entered its match against Seattle eighth in the NWSL table with a shot at making the playoffs for the first time in club history.
—Tamerra Griffin, New York Times, 15 Sep. 2025
John Hopewell, Variety, 20 Sep. 2025
Your dad mutters for head movement, for cage cutting, for not playing off the back and creating distance.
—Matthew Shen Goodman, Harpers Magazine, 19 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for playoff
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Noun
Both of his sons are coming off of stellar seasons, with Matthew leading the Panthers to another Stanley Cup (while playing through injury) and Brady leading the Ottawa Senators to their first playoff appearance in eight years.
—Dj Siddiqi, Forbes.com, 15 Sep. 2025
Known for her ability to unlock opponents’ midfields and draw fouls in advantageous positions, DeMelo has also proven herself critical to Racing Louisville, which entered its match against Seattle eighth in the NWSL table with a shot at making the playoffs for the first time in club history.
—Tamerra Griffin, New York Times, 15 Sep. 2025
Verb
Movistar Plus+ can play off several market tailwinds.
—John Hopewell, Variety, 20 Sep. 2025
Your dad mutters for head movement, for cage cutting, for not playing off the back and creating distance.
—Matthew Shen Goodman, Harpers Magazine, 19 Sep. 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 21 Sep. 2025.
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