postseason: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Medium in sports contexts, Low in general usageTechnical/Formal in sports jargon
Quick answer
What does “postseason” mean?
The period following the regular season in sports, during which playoffs or championships are held.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The period following the regular season in sports, during which playoffs or championships are held.
Can refer to any subsequent period after a main season or cycle, though primarily used in athletic contexts.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
In American English, 'postseason' is standard and widely used in sports like baseball and basketball. In British English, 'post-season' (often hyphenated) is less common, with 'playoffs' or 'knockout stages' being preferred.
Connotations
In AmE, it connotes high-stakes competition and culmination of the season. In BrE, it may sound Americanized or technical.
Frequency
Much more frequent in American English media and discourse.
Grammar
How to Use “postseason” in a Sentence
in the postseasonduring the postseasonthe postseason of [year]qualify for the postseasonVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “postseason” in a Sentence
adjective
British English
- The post-season fixtures are always highly anticipated.
- We attended a post-season review meeting.
American English
- Postseason tickets are in high demand.
- He made a postseason adjustment to the strategy.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare; occasionally used metaphorically for post-peak periods, e.g., 'postseason sales' after holidays.
Academic
Found in sports management, sociology of sport, or media studies discussing league structures.
Everyday
Common in conversations among sports fans, especially in North America.
Technical
Standard term in sports journalism, league regulations, and broadcasting.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “postseason”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “postseason”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “postseason”
- Using 'postseason' as a verb, e.g., 'The team will postseason' instead of 'The team will play in the postseason'.
- Misspelling as 'post season' without hyphen or as one word; standard is 'postseason' in AmE, 'post-season' in BrE.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Rarely; it is almost exclusively used in sports contexts, though it can be metaphorically extended.
In American English, it is pronounced as /ˈpoʊstˌsiːzən/, with the stress on the first syllable.
In British English, it is often hyphenated as 'post-season', while in American English, it is typically written as one word 'postseason'.
'Postseason' refers to the entire period after the regular season, which may include various events, while 'playoffs' specifically denote the tournament series to determine a champion.
The period following the regular season in sports, during which playoffs or championships are held.
Postseason is usually technical/formal in sports jargon in register.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of 'post' as 'after' – postseason is the time after the main sports season.
Conceptual Metaphor
Often metaphorically extended to represent any critical or decisive phase following a main period.
Practice
Quiz
What is the primary meaning of 'postseason'?