off-road

American

[awf-rohd, of-] / ˈɔfˈroʊd, ˈɒf- /

adjective

designed, built, or used for traveling off public roads, especially on unpaved roads, trails, beaches, or rough terrain.

an off-road vehicle.
taking place on such roads or terrain.

off-road racing.
used for or suitable to an off-road vehicle.

off-road tires.

adverb

on a road or terrain other than a public road.

to travel off-road.

off-road British

adjective

(of a motor vehicle) designed or built for use away from public roads, esp on rough terrain

"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-road

First recorded in 1960–65

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.

He then walked off-road into Ashbourne and finished by rowing along the Trent and Mersey Canal.

From BBC • May 13, 2026

The Brooks Ghost is Brooks’ most popular road trainer, but last year, the brand launched the Brooks Ghost Trail, an off-road version.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 30, 2026

Higher-end off-road performance vehicle trims accounted for almost 25% of total U.S. sales.

From Barron's • Apr. 29, 2026

Surron motorbikes are advertised online as “easy to maneuver like a bicycle, with the torque and power of an off-road motorcycle.”

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 22, 2026

Jonah got to see how the vehicle performed in off-road mud puddles.

From "Class Matters" by The New York Times

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