Definition

Noun: 1. A series of games or matches to decide a winner or champion: A "playoff" is a final competition or a series of competitions, often held after a regular season, to determine the ultimate champion or winner of a league or tournament.

Usage

The term "playoff" is used in sports and competitive contexts. It refers to the culminating stage where the best competitors from a season or preliminary rounds face each other. It is almost always used as a singular noun, but "playoffs" (plural) is the common form when referring to the entire series of games.

Examples

• The top four teams will advance to the playoff.
• They won three games in a row to reach the championship playoff.
• The team's goal is to make the playoffs this year.
• The playoff format is a best-of-seven series.

Advanced Usage

• Playoff berth: A secured place or spot in the playoffs.
  • Their victory last night clinched a playoff berth.
• Playoff contention: The state of being in the race to qualify for the playoffs.
  • The team is still in playoff contention with two games left.
• Playoff atmosphere: The heightened excitement and pressure typical of playoff games.
  • The stadium had a real playoff atmosphere even though it was a regular season game.

Variants and Related Words

• Playoffs (n, plural): The more common term for the entire postseason series of games.
  • The NBA playoffs begin in April.
• Playoff-bound (adj): Describing a team that is certain to qualify for the playoffs.
  • The playoff-bound team rested its star players.
• Playoff game/match/series: Specific instances within the playoffs.

Synonyms

• Championship series: A series to decide the champion.
• Postseason: The period of competition after the regular season.
• Final(s): The last round(s) of a competition.

Related Phrases

• Win-or-go-home: Describing the single-elimination nature of many playoff games.
  • It's a win-or-go-home playoff game.
• Road to the championship: A metaphorical phrase for the playoff journey.
  • The playoffs are the final step on the road to the championship.

Noun

1. any final competition to determine a championship