TV timeout

noun

A time-out taking place during a televised sports match where the game clock is stopped for a period of time to allow for TV commercials to air before the resumption of play. The delay is usually after a whistle or other stoppage of play occurs, and not an interference with gameplay in and of itself.

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Meanings

nounTV timeout (plural TV timeouts)

plural TV timeouts · alternative TV time-out · alternative TV time out · alternative television time-out · alternative television time out · alternative television timeout

  1. CanadaUSbroadcastingA time-out taking place during a televised sports match where the game clock is stopped for a period of time to allow for TV commercials to air before the resumption of play. The delay is usually after a whistle or other stoppage of play occurs, and not an interference with gameplay in and of itself.

Origin

From TV + timeout.

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

TV timeout. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/TV%20timeout

MLA

“TV timeout.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/TV%20timeout. Accessed November 3, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “TV timeout,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/TV%20timeout.

Source: TV timeout on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.