off-peak

[awf-peek, of-]

adjective

1. of, relating to, or during a period of less than maximum frequency, demand, intensity, or use.

   the off-peak travel season; off-peak train fares.

2. lower than the maximum.

   off-peak production.

off-peak

adjective

1. of or relating to services as used outside periods of intensive use or electricity supplied at cheaper rates during the night

Word History and Origins

Origin of off-peak¹

First recorded in 1915–20

Example Sentences

"In many cases it makes no sense from what I can see, because there's no relationship between peak and off-peak periods in those fares… that doesn't make sense and I can't see the argument for it," he added.

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UEL undergraduate student Viga Lukita raised travel costs as a concern, but said she uses the Student Oyster Card and travelled during off-peak hours to save money.

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Using traffic modelling - where traffic patterns are simulated - the maximum delays westbound and eastbound are expected to be up to six minutes off-peak and up to 15 minutes during peak times.

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The peak/off-peak system is designed to discourage passengers from getting on busier trains, by making it more expensive to travel during the commuter rush before 9am and between 5pm and 7pm.

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The DfT has not said whether or not it would try removing off-peak charges across the whole English network, but it has said it wants to reform the way tickets are priced as it nationalises the system.

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