MVP - Definition and Overview

In American sports, a Most Valuable Player (MVP) award is an honor typically bestowed upon the best performing player or players on a specific team, in an entire league, or for a particular contest or series of contests. Initially used in professional sports, the term is now also commonly used in amateur sports, as well as in other completely unrelated fields of endeavor such as business.

Specific awards include:

• Major League Baseball MVP Award
• Super Bowl MVP Award
• National Basketball Association Most Valuable Player Award
• National Hockey League Hart Trophy and Conn Smythe Trophy (playoffs)

A similar award in some sports is man of the match.

In computing, it is used as Most Valuable Professional. A yearly award by Microsoft to members of the community.

In medicine, MVP refers to a heart defect called mitral valve prolapse.