photo finish


noun Sports.

a finish of a race in which two or more contestants are so close to the finish line that reference to a photograph of the finish is necessary to determine the winner.

Origin of photo finish

First recorded in 1935–40

OTHER WORDS FROM photo finish

pho·to-fin·ish, adjective

British Dictionary definitions for photo finish

photo finish

noun

a finish of a race in which contestants are so close that a photograph is needed to decide the result
any race or competition in which the winners or placed contestants are separated by a very small margin