What does tiebreaker mean?
A tiebreaker is a contest, procedure, person, or factor that determines an outcome when two or more competitors are level. In sports, the term commonly denotes an extra game or round played to settle a tied match, such as a tennis tiebreaker or playoff; it can also refer more generally to the deciding score, question, vote, or consideration. The word is standard in British and American English and carries a neutral, practical connotation: it suggests a defined means of resolving a deadlock rather than an arbitrary decision. Although tiebreak is often used in the same way, tiebreaker can more directly name the person, object, or decisive factor doing the resolving. Tiebreaker is especially useful when the mechanism matters, as in “the panel interview was the tiebreaker,” or when an additional sporting contest is being identified.
nounA thing, person, or procedure used to determine the winner or outcome when competitors are level. It may be an extra contest or stage, a vote, or a deciding consideration.
- An extra contest, game, round, vote, or procedure used to resolve a tie.
- A person, score, question, or other factor that determines the outcome of a close contest.
"The deciding goal in the final minute served as the tiebreaker for the championship."
"The championship was decided by a tiebreaker in the final set."
"Her experience in the final interview proved to be the tiebreaker."
Used when referring to multiple deciding contests, procedures, people, or factors.
"Two tiebreakers were needed to determine the tournament champion."
A standard tennis tiebreaker is not merely a shortened set: it continues until one player leads by two points, after a minimum of seven points.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does tiebreaker come from?
Tiebreaker is an English compound formed from tie, break, and the suffix -er, and it became established in the early twentieth century, especially for a contest or deciding factor that resolves a deadlock. Break derives from Old English brecan, meaning “to break” or “shatter,” while tie comes through Middle English from Old English tīgan, meaning “to tie” or “fasten.” The suffix -er forms breaker, identifying the person or thing that breaks a tie.
How tiebreaker is actually used
The word is standard in both formal and informal British and American English. It is also written tie-breaker. In British pronunciation the final -er is typically /ə/, while American pronunciation commonly uses /ɚ/.
Easily confused with tiebreaker
A tiebreak is an extra contest or procedure used to settle a tie, whereas a tiebreaker can also refer to the person, object, or factor that resolves it.