不戦勝(ふせんが)ち

ふせんがち
noun
win by default; walkover
colloquialsportsevaluation
1. win by default; walkover; forfeit win
A victory achieved without playing or competing, because the opponent withdrew, failed to appear, or was disqualified.
相手(あいて)の棄権(きけん)で不戦勝(ふせんが)ちになった。
It became a win by default due to the opponent's withdrawal.
不戦勝(ふせんが)ちで次(つぎ)のラウンドに進(すす)んだ。
I advanced to the next round by walkover.
I won by default because my injured opponent couldn't compete, but it wasn't a result I could celebrate.

Composed of 不戦(ふせん) (without fighting) + 勝(か)ち (victory). Common in sports (especially sumo, tennis, and tournament formats) and sometimes used figuratively in business or politics when someone wins without real competition.

Common collocations

Similar words

  • 不戦敗(ふせんまけ): loss by default — the corresponding term for the side that forfeits
  • 棄権勝(きけんが)ち: win by opponent's withdrawal — essentially the same meaning
  • 戦わずして勝(たたかわずしてか)つ: to win without fighting — a more literary/proverbial expression