checkmate

Meanings

Interjection

• Word called out by the victor when making a move that wins the game.
• Said when one has placed a person in a losing situation with no escape.

Noun

• The conclusive victory in a game of chess that occurs when an opponent's king is threatened with unavoidable capture.
• Any losing situation with no escape; utter defeat.

Verb

• To put the king of an opponent into checkmate.
• To place in a losing situation that has no escape.

Related

Similar words

• mate

Origin

• From Middle English chekmat, from Old French eschec mat, from Arabic شَاه مَاتَ, from Persian شاه مات.