Alternative forms

• faceoff, face off

Etymology

From face +‎ offCategory:English compound terms#FACEOFF, or a deverbal from face offCategory:English deverbals#FACEOFF, c. 1889.

Pronunciation

• (US) IPA^(key): /ˈfeɪsˌɑf/Category:English 2-syllable words#FACEOFFCategory:English terms with IPA pronunciation#FACEOFF

Noun

face-off (plural face-offs)Category:English lemmas#FACEOFFCategory:English nouns#FACEOFFCategory:English countable nouns#FACEOFFCategory:English multiword terms#FACEOFFCategory:English entries with incorrect language header#FACEOFFCategory:Pages with entries#FACE-OFFCategory:Pages with 1 entry#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.Category:English terms with usage examples#FACEOFF

   • 2012 May 31, Tasha Robinson, “Film: Review: Snow White And The Huntsman”, in A.V. Club‎, archived from the original on 30 March 2013:

     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.

     Category:English terms with quotations#FACEOFF

2. (ice hockeyCategory:en:Ice hockey#FACEOFF) The start of play, when two players try to get control of the puck dropped by the referee.
   • 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:

     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.

     Category:English terms with quotations#FACEOFF

3. (field lacrosse) The start of play, when two players attempt to get possession of a ball placed on the ground between them by the referee.