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. 2022
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.