pick-six

noun

ˈpik-ˈsiks 

1

: a system of betting (as on horse races) in which the bettor must pick the winners of six consecutive races

… is one of 42 individuals holding the 78 tickets that legitimately had five out of six winners in the Breeders' Cup pick-six wager.

—Bill Finley

2

American football : an interception returned by the intercepting team for a touchdown

By halftime he had thrown two interceptions—the second a 69-yard pick-six to outside linebacker and Most Valuable Player Malcolm Smith …

—S. L. Price

Examples of pick-six in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

On the first snap of the 2026 Peach Bowl, Ponds returned a pick-six against Oregon on the first snap of the game and was named defensive player of the game. —Antwan Staley, New York Daily News, 25 Apr. 2026

Northern Michigan jumped out to a 21-0 lead, with Strand throwing a pick-six. —Andy Greder, Twin Cities, 22 Apr. 2026

At 6-3, 209 pounds, McNeil-Warren had a pick-six last season and has shown promise against the run. —Brooks Kubena, New York Times, 21 Apr. 2026

On the second, Iamaleava’s ball was well behind Morgan and Donavyn Pellot stepped in to return it for a pick-six. —Aaron Heisen, Daily News, 14 Apr. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1980, in the meaning defined at sense 1