Noun

A dead heat is a term used to describe a situation in a competition or race where two or more participants cross the finish line at the same time or with no discernible difference between them, making it impossible to determine a clear winner without the use of technology or a photo finish. In such cases, the competitors are said to be tied, or to have finished in a tie, and the event may be declared a draw or a tie. A dead heat can occur in any type of competition, including sports, horse racing, and politics.

Example

1. The two runners crossed the finish line at the exact same moment, resulting in a dead heat and a tie for first place.
2. The election results were so close that the two candidates were in a dead heat, and a recount was necessary to determine the winner.
3. The horse race was so competitive that three horses finished in a dead heat, causing a delay while the judges reviewed the photo finish to declare a winner.