upsets
n. countablen. unexpected results in a competition where the person or team expected to lose actually wins. You use this word when a favorite is beaten by an underdog.
n. instances in which an underdog or lower-seeded competitor unexpectedly defeats a favored opponent. Often used in the context of sports, politics, or competitive rankings.
The tournament saw several major upsets in the first round.
The election resulted in one of the biggest political upsets in the country's history when the newcomer won.
Sports analysts spent weeks debating the factors that led to such dramatic upsets, concluding that the favorites had underestimated their opponents' defensive strategies.
Commonly used in the plural form when discussing a series of unexpected results in a tournament or election.