one-off

American

adjective

done, occurring, or made only once; one-shot.

noun

something occurring, done, or made only once.

one-off British

noun

Also: one-shot.
1. something that is carried out or made only once
2. ( as modifier )
  
  a one-off job

"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 one-off

First recorded in 1935–40

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:

one-off

Anyone can currently become a registered number-plate supplier by filling in a quick form and paying a one-off fee.

From BBC ● Sep. 28, 2026

Tenaga is expected to absorb a one-off 120 million ringgit-150 million ringgit cost in September-December from waived fuel surcharges for selected households, while the fuel-adjustment mechanism remains intact.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 28, 2026

Paul, who was a contestant on the second series of the popular BBC series, said he reported the burglary to Cheshire Police, with the force describing it as a "one-off hit".

From BBC ● Sep. 27, 2026

The websites weren’t a one-off, according to the filing.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 26, 2026

The Ministry had arranged this one-off connection to the Floo Network to return students quickly and safely to the school.

From "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince" by J.K. Rowling

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