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• off-season
  off-season

  noun

  a time of year other than the regular or busiest one for a specific activity.
• off season
  off season

  adjective

  denoting or occurring during a period of little activity in a trade or business

off-season

American  

[awf-see-zuhn, of-] / ˈɔfˈsi zən, ˈɒf- /

noun

1. a time of year other than the regular or busiest one for a specific activity.

   Fares are lower in the off-season.

2. a time of year when business, manufacturing activity, etc., is less than normal or at an unusually low point.

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adjective

1. of, relating to, or during the off-season.

   off-season hotel rates.

adverb

1. in or during the off-season.

   Traveling off-season is the easiest way to save vacation money.

off season British  

adjective

1. denoting or occurring during a period of little activity in a trade or business

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noun

1. such a period

adverb

1. in an off-season period

Etymology

Origin of off-season

First recorded in 1840–50

Explanation

Anything with a season also has an off-season. Summer marks the off-season for skiing, and winter marks the off-season for most amusement parks (unless, of course, you live in Orlando, Florida). Off-season is often the time of the year when tourists don't visit, or when sports fans have to take a break from their favorite games. In seaside resorts, the off-season is the summer. During the off-season, visitors are sparse and sometimes businesses offer discounts to attract tourism. When you're talking about sports, the off-season is the period athletes spend training in preparation for their playing seasons.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

off-season off season

The front office tried to remedy that in the off-season, and the revamped defence was impressive in their opener against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

From BBC ● Sep. 14, 2026

If considering moving in retirement, Lupo suggested renting for a year to test the new location in all seasons — including the off-season and peak tourist season — to make sure you still love it.

From MarketWatch ● Aug. 31, 2026

You should also try it out for yourself, even if only for a couple of weeks during the on- and off-season of that area.

From MarketWatch ● Aug. 26, 2026

Hotel occupancy rates have plummeted well below the normal off-season levels.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 2, 2026

But I was there at the beginning of the off-season.

From "Nickel and Dimed: On (Not) Getting By in America" by Barbara Ehrenreich

The Colts worked on their strength in the off season after failing to stop the run in a state playoff loss to Delano Kennedy.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 18, 2026

Following an off season for the typically dominant Kansas City Chiefs, Allen’s path to the big game looked clearer than ever.

From Salon ● Jan. 18, 2026

Wilson turned a large equestrian arena on the property into a football field where he and his teammates have practiced in the off season, said listing agent Brian Guiltinan of The Guiltinan Group.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Dec. 4, 2025

Niemann won the Australian Open and sought to garner world ranking points in various events during LIV’s off season to help preserve the Chilean’s major status.

From BBC ● May 7, 2024

These trees have always been noted for their productiveness, bearing a full crop every alternate year, and a lighter one in what is termed the "off season."

From The Nut Culturist A Treatise on Propogation, Planting, and Cultivation of Nut Bearing Trees and Shrubs Adapted to the Climate of the United States by Andrew S. Fuller