off-air

American

[awf-air, of-] / ˈɔfˈɛər, ˈɒf- /

adjective

not broadcast, but said, played, or happening in a radio or television studio context.

off-air British

adjective

obtained by reception of a radiated broadcasting signal rather than by line feed

an off-air recording
connected with a radio or television programme but not broadcast

an off-air phone-in

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Savannah Guthrie made her way back to NBC’s studios in New York on Thursday after more than a month off-air, but not in her usual capacity.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 5, 2026

But, it stressed, it should be "measuring class on and off-air as a matter of urgency".

From BBC • Jan. 29, 2026

Sara Putt, Chair of BAFTA, then gave a short off-air speech, noting that the organization’s aim is to “champion talent, exceptional storytelling and make the screen industries a more equitable and sustainable place.”

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 18, 2024

Andrea Giambruno, Italian Prime Minister Georgia Meloni's ex-partner, has been dropped as host of a national TV show after sexist off-air comments were leaked to another programme.

From BBC • Oct. 25, 2023

They specify periods of retention and use of such off-air recordings in classrooms and similar places devoted to instruction and for homebound instruction.

From Reproduction of Copyrighted Works By Educators and Librarians by Library of Congress. Copyright Office

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023