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checkmate

Pronunciation: /ˈt͡ʃɛkmeɪt/

The English word “checkmate” has 6 meanings listed here.

interjection

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

noun

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

verb

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

Etymology

From Middle English chekmat, from Old French eschec mat, from Arabic شَاه مَاتَ (šāh māta), from Classical Persian شاه مات (šāh māt, “the king [is] amazed”).

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