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trade-off

or trade·off

[ treyd-awf, -of ]
/ ˈtreɪdˌɔf, -ˌɒf /
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noun
the exchange of one thing for another of more or less equal value, especially to effect a compromise.
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Origin of trade-off

First recorded in 1960–65; noun use of verb phrase trade off
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use trade-off in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for trade-off

trade-off

noun
an exchange, esp as a compromise
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

Cultural definitions for trade-off

tradeoff

What must be given up, and what is gained, when an economic decision is made.

The New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

Other Idioms and Phrases with trade-off

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 “an exchange.” [First half of 1800s]

The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
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