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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

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

Instead of the customary 60% to 70% occupancy rate in off-season June, the hotel is less than 40% full, the manager said.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 2, 2026

Kelp can be grown in the off-season by fishermen who already have boats and gear, with relatively low upfront costs.

From BBC ● Apr. 29, 2026

The skins contain natural oils, and garments not kept in a temperature-controlled environment -- ideally off-season in cold vaults -- can dry out and disintegrate.

From Barron's ● Apr. 24, 2026

Spending the winter here has its advantages, and I’m not talking about the free off-season parking in Provincetown.

From "The Sense of Style" by Steven Pinker

"We have a big tourism product on the north coast and the students are sustaining that when we're off season," she added.

From BBC ● May 17, 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

Contreras has reversed its policy and will now allow its coaches to train students in their off season.

From Los Angeles Times ● Feb. 14, 2025

"Dis, now, is de off season for touris'," he explained.

From Virginia: the Old Dominion by Frank W. Hutchins