trade-off
or tradeĀ·off
COMPARE MEANINGS
Origin of trade-off
Words nearby trade-off
MORE ABOUT TRADE-OFF
What is a trade-off?
A trade-off is an exchange of one thing for another. A trade-off can be literal, involving physical items, like in a lunch trade-off, where you get your friendās lunch and they get yours.
A trade-off can also be figurative, as when you have to stay home because youāre sick but the trade-off is you get to stay in bed all day. In this sense, a trade-off is a kind of compromise.
Example: The big trade-off to running a marathon is getting to eat a lot of pasta!
Where does trade-off come from?
The first records of the term trade-off come from around 1960. It is a noun form of the verb phrase trade off, which means to exchange one thing for another, usually as a compromise.
A trade-off is often performed to create a compromise. For example, you might give someone something youād rather keep in exchange to form a relationship or obtain a service. Sometimes trade-off is used to describe a quick exchange that may or may not be suspicious.
Did you know ā¦ ?
What are some other forms related to trade-off?
- tradeoff (alternative spelling)
What are some synonyms for trade-off?
What are some words that share a root or word element with trade-off?Ā
What are some words that often get used in discussing trade-off?
How is trade-off used in real life?
Trade-off is a common way to describe a compromise.
Almost a month since I quit my job, one month without a salary. I probably earned 1/2 my salary through independent work but I felt I was happier as I got to spend more time with friends, family, travel or do things I genuinely love. Guess it's a good trade-off? Or is it not?
— Trendulkar (@Trendulkar) November 27, 2019
Twitter limit is going to 280 characters, so can we make email go to 140 as a trade-off?
— George Couros (@gcouros) September 28, 2017
Scale to zero is a trade-off; not a best practice.
— Kelsey Hightower (@kelseyhightower) April 16, 2019
Try using trade-off!
Is trade-off used correctly in the following sentence?
It rained all day today, but I didnāt have to leave the house, so I guess thatās a fair trade-off.
How to use trade-off in a sentence
British Dictionary definitions for trade-off
Cultural definitions for trade-off
What must be given up, and what is gained, when an economic decision is made.
Other Idioms and Phrases with trade-off
Exchange one thing for another, especially as a compromise. For example, They were willing to trade off some vacation for the freedom to work flexible hours. This idiom gave rise to tradeoff for āan exchange.ā [First half of 1800s]