off year

noun

a year without a major, especially presidential, election.

a year marked by reduced or inferior production or activity in a particular field, as farming, business, or sports: With its wet, cold summer, this was an off year for grapes.

Nearby words

off the track, off the wagon, off the wall, off topic, off with her head! off with his head!, off year, off, be, off-air, off-balance, off-balance sheet reserve, off-base

Origin of off year

First recorded in 1870–75

Related forms

off-year, adjective

Examples from the Web for off year

The off-year special election into which Duke threw himself drew little media notice at first.
The Louisiana Racists Who Courted Steve Scalise|Jason Berry|January 3, 2015|DAILY BEAST
So far, Ready for Hillary's foray into off-year elections is mixed.
Ready for Hillary Super PAC Throws In for 2014 Midterms|David Freedlander|March 26, 2014|DAILY BEAST
But, in an off-year special election those patterns might not hold.
Florida’s Midterm Warm Up|Ben Jacobs|March 11, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Canter acknowledges that the Democrats talk about “field” in every off-year election.
Democrats’ Best Weapon for Midterms: Fear of a Red Senate|Michael Tomasky|February 21, 2014|DAILY BEAST

Instead, the off-year had elections of less political significance but scandals that were a lot more fun.
Rob Ford and the Sleaziest Pols of the Year|Ben Jacobs|December 28, 2013|DAILY BEAST
At the present time the Red Astrachans are ripe and the two off-year branches are fairly well loaded with magnificent apples.
In Pastures Green|Peter McArthur
Every President in the off-year election urges the election of a Congress of his own party.
Woodrow Wilson's Administration and Achievements|Frank B. Lord and James William Bryan
By the latter system the ploughing is done in the off-year, and the land left a naked fallow.
A Report on Washington Territory|William Henry Ruffner