deathmatch

English

Etymology

From death +‎ match.

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /ˈdɛθ.mæt͡ʃ/
  • Audio (Southern England):(file)

Noun

deathmatch (plural deathmatches)

  1. (video games) A competitive mode found in first-person shooter games in which competitors attempt to assassinate one another.
    Synonym: free-for-all
    • 2013, Matt Fox, The Video Games Guide:
      There are only eight levels but the varied game modes (including time attacks, survivals, team deathmatches, hunts, and sieges) in both single and multi-player keeps things interesting.
    • 2023 May 8, Shay Robson, “Valorant players plead with Riot for overdue Deathmatch rework”, in Dexerto[1]:
      The player continued to describe their own experience with deathmatch, explaining sometimes it takes several minutes for the deathmatch to load — meaning by the time they spawn, the game is almost over.

Derived terms

Translations

See also

Verb

deathmatch (third-person singular simple present deathmatches, present participle deathmatching, simple past and past participle deathmatched)

  1. (video games, transitive) To compete against in a deathmatch.
    • Doom video game (id Software, 1993): message shown when quitting
      If I were your boss, I'd deathmatch ya in a minute!
  2. (video games, intransitive) To take part in deathmatch gaming.