tiebreaker
noun
tie·break·er
ˈtī-ˌbrā-kər 
plural tiebreakers
1
: an additional contest or period of play used to select a winner when a competition or part of a competition ends in a tie
… after a 90-minute rain delay in the third set, won a riveting tiebreaker.—
L. Jon Wertheim
L. Jon Wertheimcalled also tiebreak
2
: a person whose vote breaks a tie
The vice president served as a tiebreaker in the last Senate vote.
3
: a final vote, point, or score that determines the winner in a contest
She cast the tiebreaker.
Examples of tiebreaker in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The Broncos will be a better team with a worse record, finishing 11-6, a mark that could mean a tiebreaker determines the AFC West champ.
—Troy Renck, Denver Post, 18 May 2026
Team New York, coached by rapper Jadakiss, tied Orlando with 16, but won a tiebreaker to advance.
—Jason Beede, Sun Sentinel, 16 May 2026
The team claimed its 20th consecutive Pacific Coast League title and avenged a nonleague loss against Corona del Mar by winning in a super tiebreaker late in the regular season.
—Dan Albano, Oc Register, 14 May 2026
With an even 2-2 record, both teams are looking for a tiebreaker to tilt the scales in their favor.
—Jason Cohen, PC Magazine, 13 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for tiebreaker
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Troy Renck, Denver Post, 18 May 2026
Team New York, coached by rapper Jadakiss, tied Orlando with 16, but won a tiebreaker to advance.
—Jason Beede, Sun Sentinel, 16 May 2026
The team claimed its 20th consecutive Pacific Coast League title and avenged a nonleague loss against Corona del Mar by winning in a super tiebreaker late in the regular season.
—Dan Albano, Oc Register, 14 May 2026
With an even 2-2 record, both teams are looking for a tiebreaker to tilt the scales in their favor.
—Jason Cohen, PC Magazine, 13 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for tiebreaker
Cite this Entry
“Tiebreaker.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tiebreaker. Accessed 20 May. 2026.
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