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

called 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

Grizzlies: 45-32 The Warriors have the head-to-head tiebreaker over the Timberwolves and Grizzlies. —Anthony Slater, New York Times, 5 Apr. 2025

The Hawks also currently hold the tiebreaker over the Heat despite the two teams splitting their regular-season series 2-2 because Atlanta is currently leading Miami’s division. —Anthony Chiang, Miami Herald, 1 Apr. 2025

Separation is key for the Magic and Heat to hold off the Bulls, who hold the head-to-head tiebreaker over both teams. —Julia Poe, Chicago Tribune, 1 Apr. 2025

Both teams have a 41-31 record, but Los Angeles holds the head-to-head tiebreaker. —Danny Emerman, Mercury News, 28 Mar. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1904, in the meaning defined at sense 3

Rhymes for tiebreaker

• blackacre
• caretaker
• clockmaker
• dressmaker
• filmmaker
• homemaker
• icebreaker
• lawmaker
• matchmaker
• pacemaker
• partaker
• peacemaker