kickoff

USAGE SUMMARY

The word "kickoff" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it as a noun to mean the beginning an event or process, similar to the term "start". For example, "The kickoff event for the charity drive was held last week."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Had Sporting gone 4-at-the-back at kickoff, could they have prevented their 2-1 loss?

The Guardian - Sport

Lieven, who has written about Clinton's hawkishness on foreign policy, said it was unlikely that Clinton, whose grassroots staff is already joining an invisible campaign that could signal an April kickoff, would emerge as more strongly interventionist than she had otherwise presented herself to be.

The Guardian

"Before the kickoff, I went on the field and got on the microphone and made the announcement that was the Cosmos shirt for him to wear one day and we hoped it would happen one day.

The Guardian - Sport

Related: Bernie Sanders: 'Maybe I shouldn't say this: I like Hillary Clinton Sanderss officially announced his candidacy in a press conference on the grounds of the Capitol in Washington DC last month, but Tuesday's event serves as the formal kickoff for his presidential campaign.

The Guardian

By kickoff, Chicago could be battling for a playoff spot, struggling to avoid the play-in, fighting for home field, or sitting pretty in third.

The Guardian - Sport

Clinton's spokesman, Nick Merrill, did not respond to multiple requests for comment on the contours of Clinton's campaign kickoff schedule.

The Guardian

Only SIX hours to kickoff now.

The Guardian

Scoring also dipped in 1974, following a five-week summer lockout, and, like this season, several rule changes (moving the kickoff line, modified blocking and tackling rules).

The Economist

With only two days left before the first votes are cast in the Iowa caucuses, the kickoff to America's extended presidential selection process is nearly upon us.

The Economist

Airports remain mired in the last century, and at least five of the 12 host cities have admitted they will not build the promised bus lanes, metros or monorails before kickoff.

The Economist

Offences combined for 655 points, defences for 34 and special teams for 63 (I include field goals in offensive scoring; special-teams points are kickoff and punt returns).

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "kickoff" to denote the start of specific events, campaigns, or periods, especially when implying a formal or organized beginning.

Common error

While "kickoff" is widely accepted, consider using simpler alternatives like "start" or "beginning" in casual conversations to maintain a natural tone.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "kickoff" is as a noun, denoting the start or beginning of an event, game, or campaign. Ludwig provides numerous examples of its usage in this context.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

63%

Encyclopedias

13%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

The New Yorker

10%

Independent

7%

Science

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the noun "kickoff" correctly and commonly refers to the start or beginning of an event, game, or campaign. Ludwig AI confirms this with numerous real-world examples. Its register is generally neutral, often used in news and media. For related terms, consider "start", "commencement", or "launch". While appropriate in various contexts, it may be more suitable to use simpler terms in informal settings. Avoid confusing the noun "kickoff" with the verb phrase "kick off".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

start

A more general term for beginning an activity or event.

commencement

A more formal term for the beginning of something, often used in ceremonies.

launch

Refers to initiating something, often a product, campaign, or project.

initiation

Highlights the action of beginning or introducing something.

outset

Emphasizes the very beginning or start of something.

opening

Signifies the beginning or first part of an event or period.

inception

Refers to the beginning or establishment of something.

prelude

Indicates something that precedes or introduces the main event.

genesis

Highlights the origin or creation of something.

starting point

Emphasizes the place or time from which something begins.

FAQs

How to use "kickoff" in a sentence?

You can use "kickoff" to refer to the start of an event, such as "The "kickoff event" for the campaign is next week" or the start of a sports game.

What can I say instead of "kickoff"?

You can use alternatives like "start", "beginning", or "launch" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "kickoff" or "kick off"?

"Kickoff" is the correct spelling as a noun or adjective. "Kick off" is a verb phrase.

What's the difference between "kickoff" and "start"?

"Kickoff" often implies a more organized or formal beginning, while "start" is a more general term for beginning something.