Definition, Meaning & Synonyms
checkmate
Noun
/ˈʧɛkˌmeɪt/
Definition
A situation in chess where a player’s king is in a position to be captured (‘in check’) and there are no available moves to escape the threat.
Examples
- After a long battle, she finally announced ‘checkmate’ and won the match.
- The opponent realized too late that he had fallen into a trap, leading to his checkmate.
- He studied the board carefully before making his move, determined to force a checkmate.
Meaning
It signifies a decisive victory in chess, indicating the end of the game when one player’s king cannot evade capture.
Synonyms
- defeat
- conquest
- victory
