face-off

US/ˈfeɪsˌɑf/

noun

A confrontation or argument between two people or groups.

“It's unclear which side will win the latest face-off between the President and Congress.”

Similar
confrontationencountershowdown
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Meanings

nounface-off (plural face-offs)

plural face-offs · alternative faceoff · alternative face off

  1. A confrontation or argument between two people or groups.

    It's unclear which side will win the latest face-off between the President and Congress.

    1 more example

    Huntsman starts out with a vision of Theron that’s specific, unique, and weighted in character, but it trends throughout toward generic fantasy tropes and black-and-white morality, and climaxes in a thoroughly familiar face-off.

    2012 May 31, Tasha Robinson, “Film: Review: Snow White And The Huntsman”, in A.V. Club, archived from the original on 30 Mar 2013
  2. hobbiesThe start of play, when two players try to get control of the puck dropped by the referee.

    Canada’s men’s hockey team defeated the USA 3-2 in overtime Thursday to capture the inaugural 4 Nations Face-Off Championship as the NHL put on a show in the first edition of this midseason international tournament.

    2025 February 20, Homero De la Fuente, “Canada beats Team USA in overtime thriller to win hockey’s first-ever 4 Nations Face-off championship”, in CNN
  3. field lacrosseThe start of play, when two players attempt to get possession of a ball placed on the ground between them by the referee.

Synonyms & antonyms

nouna hostile disagreement face-to-face

Similar
confrontationencountershowdown
Broader
disagreement
Also see
confrontationdisputeencountershowdown

Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.

Origin

From face + off, or a deverbal from face off, c. 1889.

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Bulgarian була
  • була (bula)start of play in ice hockey etc.
Chinese Mandarin 對峙 /对峙, 對質 /对质
  • 對峙 /对峙 (duìzhì)confrontation or argument between two people or groups
  • 對質 /对质 (duìzhì)confrontation or argument between two people or groups
Czech buly, rozhoz
  • bulystart of play in ice hockey etc.
  • rozhozstart of play in ice hockey etc.
Finnish aloitus
  • aloitusstart of play in ice hockey etc.
Japanese 対決
  • 対決 (taiketsu)confrontation or argument between two people or groups
Russian конфронта́ция, противостоя́ние
  • конфронта́ция (konfrontácija)confrontation or argument between two people or groups
  • противостоя́ние (protivostojánije)confrontation or argument between two people or groups
  • противобо́рство (protivobórstvo)confrontation or argument between two people or groups
  • вбрасывание (vbrasyvanije)start of play in ice hockey etc.
Spanish contrapunto, careo
  • contrapuntoconfrontation or argument between two people or groups
  • careoconfrontation or argument between two people or groups
  • encaramientoconfrontation or argument between two people or groups
Swedish tekning
  • tekningstart of play in ice hockey etc.
Cite this entry
APA

face-off. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/face-off

MLA

“face-off.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/face-off. Accessed November 3, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “face-off,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/face-off.

Source: face-off on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.