playoff

noun

PLAY-awf/ˈpleɪˌɔf/UKPLAY-of/ˈpleɪɒf/

4 meanings of playoff

1
nounUScountable
A short set of games played to decide which team wins the league.
Our team made the playoffs for the first time in ten years.
She bought tickets for the first playoff game.
Similarpostseason
Note
2
nouncountable
One last game played to decide the winner when two sides are tied.
After four rounds the two golfers were tied, so a playoff decided the winner.
Both sides had won two games each, so a playoff on Monday decided the series.
Similartiebreaker, decider
Note
3
nounUKcountable
A short set of games to decide the last team that moves up to a higher league.
Finishing fifth put the club into the playoffs for promotion.
They lost the playoff final and stayed in the same division.
Note
4
nouncountable
A short bit of music played between scenes in a musical, usually a tune from the last scene.
The band played a quick playoff while the actors moved the set.
The playoff after the love song uses the same tune, but softer.

Can you tell the meanings of playoff apart? Answer 3 quick questions from this page, or write your own sentence and AI will check it.

From the phrase play off.