photo finish

The term "photo finish" originated from the use of photography to determine the winner in closely contested races.

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Definition

(technical)The end of a race where the leaders are so close that a photograph is needed to determine the winner.

The marathon ended in a photo finish, with the top two runners crossing the line almost simultaneously.

(informal)A very close outcome in any contest, often requiring detailed examination to determine the winner.

The election was a photo finish, with the candidates separated by only a few votes.

Terms that have similar or relatively close meanings to "photo finish":