off-peak

American

[awf-peek, of-] / ˈɔfˈpik, ˈɒf- /

adjective

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.
lower than the maximum.

off-peak production.

off-peak British

adjective

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

"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

Etymology

Origin of off-peak

First recorded in 1915–20

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.

See Examples For:

off-peak

Travelling to Japan isn't cheap - return off-peak flights with a layover in China start at about £450 with a budget airline.

From BBC ● Aug. 29, 2026

Focusing on beverages has allowed retailers to recapture audiences with an affordable luxury that’s cheaper than buying a full meal, is pretty enough to post, and brings in more consumers during off-peak hours.

From Slate ● Aug. 14, 2026

The company plans to use its existing infrastructure, locations and robotics to prepare those meals during off-peak hours, then send them out in the same deliveries as its hot, ready-to-go food.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 7, 2026

The software controlling the system ensures that the car batteries charge up in off-peak hours, when demand for electricity in the flats is low.

From Barron's ● Jun. 12, 2026

For systems that wait to off-peak hours to send responses you may have to wait a day.

From Email 101 by John Goodwin

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