# playoff

/ˈpɫeɪˌɔf/ (US) · /plˈeɪɒf/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/playoff
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 2. promotion match

noun · CEFR B2 · British English

a game played to decide which team will move up to a higher league.

For teachers: a match or series of matches played between teams at the end of a season to determine which will be promoted to a higher division.

- The team won the playoff final at Wembley to reach the Premier League.
- After finishing third in the table, the club had to navigate a tense two-legged playoff to secure their spot in the top flight.

Usage: frequently used in the singular when referring to a specific match or final.

Teaching tip: Commonly associated with English football (soccer) league structures.

### 3. tie-breaker

noun · CEFR B2

an extra game played to decide a winner when two teams have the same score.

For teachers: an additional contest played to resolve a deadlocked competition or a tie in standings.

- The two golfers had to play a three-hole playoff to decide the tournament winner.
- Since both players finished eighteen holes with identical scores, the tournament rules mandated a sudden-death playoff starting on the first tee.

### 4. musical transition

noun · CEFR C2 · Technical

a short piece of music played while the actors move between scenes in a play.

For teachers: a brief musical passage played during a scene change or at the exit of a character, often based on a previous song.

- The orchestra played a lively playoff as the dancers left the stage.
- The composer used a brassy playoff to maintain the energy of the production while the stagehands executed a complex set change in total darkness.

## Examples

- The team won the playoff and became the champions.
- After finishing the season with identical records, the two teams met in a one-game playoff to decide the division winner.
- The league structure dictates that only the top four teams qualify for the post-season playoff, where a single loss results in immediate elimination from the tournament.

---

From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.