knockout
n. countablen. a hit that makes a fighter fall down and lose the match. It can also describe someone or something that is very attractive or impressive.
n. the act of rendering an opponent unconscious or unable to rise within a specified time, typically in boxing. In a broader sense, refers to a person or thing of exceptional beauty or excellence; informal in this register.
The champion won the fight with a powerful knockout in the third round.
She looked like a total knockout in her new evening gown at the gala.
The tournament follows a knockout format, meaning any team that loses a single match is immediately eliminated from the competition.
Deverbal from knock out.
Often abbreviated as 'KO' in sports contexts. When used as an adjective, it is usually hyphenated as 'knock-out'.