photo finish

noun

1

: a race or finish in which contestants are so close that a photograph of them as they cross the finish line has to be examined to determine the winner

2

: a close contest

Examples of photo finish in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

With those tight margins, the outcome is poised to be a photo finish. —Mychael Schnell, The Hill, 1 Apr. 2025

Mikey Madison also pulled off a surprise Best Actress win in a race that many thought would come down to a photo finish between Fernanda Torres and Demi Moore. —Eliana Dockterman, TIME, 2 Mar. 2025

Fords make up nine of the first 10 starting positions for the Cup Series race at the track that produced an epic three-wide photo finish a season ago. —Shane Connuck, Charlotte Observer, 23 Feb. 2025

From the thrilling photo finish at Churchill Downs that captured Mystik Dan winning the historic 150th Kentucky Derby to Tiger Woods and Scottie Scheffler gracing Valhalla Golf Club for the 106th PGA Championship. —Staff, The Courier-Journal, 31 Dec. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1935, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for photo finish

• diminish
• finnish
• minish

Kids Definition

photo finish

noun

1

: a finish of a race in which contestants are so close that a photograph of them crossing the finish line has to be examined to decide the winner

2

: a close contest (as in an election)