WordGarden.ioscoreline
Pronunciation
UK
- /skˈɔːlaɪn/
US
Meanings
Noun
the stated or displayed score of a game or match, especially as numbers showing the result
Beyond the definition
The scoreline tells the story of a match, not just who won, but how. It is more than a set of numbers; it gives a quick sense of whether the game was easy, close, or full of action. Think about a football game: 5-0 suggests one team was far stronger, while 1-0 points to a tight, hard-fought contest. You will often hear commentators discuss the scoreline after a big game, looking at the key moments that led to the final result. The word is used most often in sports, especially when talking about football, rugby, cricket, and similar games.
A scoreline refers to the numerical result of a game or match, usually the final one. It is the official record of goals, points, runs, or another measure used to show the outcome. Saying "Team A won" tells you the winner, but the scoreline adds the important detail of by how much.
The term is mainly used in sports reporting and everyday sports talk. You will hear phrases like "the final scoreline was 3-2" or "the scoreline did not reflect the game." It is especially common in British English and in writing or speech about football, though it also appears in other sports. In many cases, the word suggests the written form of the result as much as the result itself.
A scoreline is rarely just a dry statistic; it often tells a story. A wide scoreline suggests a comfortable win, while a close one suggests a tense and competitive game. Sometimes people even say that the scoreline was flattering or unfair, meaning the numbers do not fully match what happened on the field. So when you hear someone mention a "scoreline," think of it as a compact picture of the match: who came out ahead, how close it was, and what kind of contest it may have been.
Examples
- 1
Halftime score
At halftime, the scoreline was still 0-0.
- 2
Final result
The final scoreline of 3-1 made the win look more comfortable than it really was.
- 3
Misleading result
The 1-1 scoreline flattered the visitors.
- Phrasethe scoreline flattered them
the result looked better for them than they actually played
See also
Similar
Contrast
- performance
- run of play
Used with (collocations)
- final scoreline
- current scoreline
- a 2-1 scoreline
- the scoreline flattered them
Explore
- scoreboard
- aggregate score
Forms and spellings
1 form open this card.
Main spelling
- scoreline