standoff

American  

[stand-awf, -of] / ˈstændˌɔf, -ˌɒf /

Or stand-off

noun

1. a standing off or apart; aloofness.

2. a tie or draw, as in a game.

3. something that counterbalances.

4. a prop for holding the top of a ladder away from the vertical surface against which it is leaning.

5. Electricity. an insulator that supports a conductor above a surface.

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adjective

1. standing off or apart; aloof; reserved.

   an uncordial and standoff manner.

standoff British  

/ ˈstændˌɒf /

noun

1. the act or an instance of standing off or apart

2. a deadlock or stalemate

3. any situation or disposition of forces that counterbalances or neutralizes

4. rugby short for stand-off half

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verb

1. (intr) to navigate a vessel so as to avoid the shore, an obstruction, etc

2. (tr) to keep or cause to keep at a distance

3. (intr) to reach a deadlock or stalemate

4. (tr) to dismiss (workers), esp temporarily

Usage

What does standoff mean? A standoff is a situation in which no progress can be made or people are prevented from taking further action. Close synonyms are stalemate and deadlock. Such a standoff often involves two or more opposing sides that refuse to budge, back down, or change their position. A political standoff is one in which both sides refuse to come to an agreement or compromise on some policy or course of action. In the context of policing, the word standoff refers to a situation in which a person refuses to be arrested but is keeping police away by threatening violence. In movies, the tense moment when two characters are pointing weapons at each other and waiting for the other to make a move is often called a standoff. Standoff can also refer to what happens when a game or other competition ends in a tie or without a winner being declared. Much less commonly, standoff can be used as an adjective to mean aloof, reserved, or unfriendly, as in The hostess greeted us in a distant, standoff manner. The adjective standoffish is more commonly used to mean the same thing. Standoff is sometimes hyphenated, as stand-off. Example: The old enemies stared at each other in a tense standoff, both of them refusing to give an inch.

Etymology

Origin of standoff

First recorded in 1830–40; noun, adj. use of verb phrase stand off

Explanation

A standoff happens when two people or groups can't move forward or proceed because of a disagreement, or when two teams have a tied score. In chess, a stalemate is a kind of standoff—when there's no way for a player to move without putting herself in check. Another example of a standoff is when two governments are bargaining or negotiating but can't reach an agreement, and so make no progress. You might see protesters and police officers in a standoff, or witness friends argue about politics and reach a standoff, where neither one will change their mind.

Example Sentences

The standoff has raised concerns in South Korea, where semiconductors account for about 35 percent of exports and are a key pillar of the economy.

From Barron's • May 20, 2026

But the latest numbers come during a week when inflation data showed the cost of living climbing to a three-year high as the Iran war standoff continues.

From MarketWatch • May 14, 2026

But how long can that last in a market where hotter inflation prints, tied to the standoff in the Gulf region and elevated oil prices, push bond yields ever higher?

From Barron's • May 14, 2026

An ensuing standoff ended hours later with the chief of the National Bureau of Investigation telling reporters that they would not arrest Dela Rosa while he was in the custody of the Senate.

From BBC • May 12, 2026

At Verdun, meanwhile, after a summer standoff, the fighting flared up again.

From "The War to End All Wars: World War I" by Russell Freedman

Related Words

• deadlock
• impasse
• stalemate