checkmate
Intermediate (B1)
IPA: /ˈtʃɛkˌmeɪt/
KK: /ˈtʃɛkˌmeɪt/
noun
Definition
A situation in chess where a player's king is under attack and cannot escape, resulting in the end of the game.
Example
After a long game, she finally achieved checkmate against her opponent.
Conversation
Did you see that game last night?
Yeah, it was intense! I thought he had a chance until the checkmate.
I know, right? It felt like such a sudden ending.
Totally! One moment he was in control, and then bam, it was over.
Synonyms & Antonyms
Synonyms
defeat
conquest
victory
Antonyms
rescue
salvation
escape
transitive verb
Definition
To defeat an opponent in a game of chess, leaving them with no legal moves.
Example
He managed to checkmate his opponent in just ten moves.
Tense Forms
Past: checkmated
Past Participle: checkmated
Conversation
Did you see that last chess match?
Yeah, it was intense! I thought he was going to win.
But then the other player managed to checkmate him unexpectedly.
Root Explanation
Checkmate is derived from the Persian phrase "Shah Mat" (meaning the king is dead or defeated), which was adopted into Arabic as "Shah Mat" and then into Old French as "eschec mat". The term "check" comes from the Old French "eschec" (meaning to check or hinder), and "mate" is derived from the Persian "mat" (meaning dead or defeated). Together, they describe a situation in chess where the king is in a position to be captured and cannot escape, thus ending the game.
Memory Tip
Imagine a king who is 'defeated' ('mat') and 'checked' ('eschec') in a game of chess — that's what checkmate means.
Visually Confused Words
cockmate
hecate