offseason

noun

off·​sea·​son ˈȯf-ˌsē-zᵊn 

variants or less commonly off-season

plural offseasons also off-seasons

: a time of suspended or reduced activity

It's cheaper to visit the area during the offseason.

off-season travel

especially : the time during which an athlete is not training or competing

During the offseason, he put on another eight pounds of muscle and when he got to spring training, his Red Sox uniform was too tight.

—Mel Antonen

After undergoing arthroscopic surgery in the off-season, Hardaway says he's ready to put last year's disappointment behind him.

—Marty Burns

an offseason football trade

off-season training

off-season adverb

or less commonly offseason

traveling off-season

Examples of offseason in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Does that desire to be on the field for offseason activities trump his financial motivations at the end of the day? —Nick Harris, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 2 Mar. 2026

Veteran standout Brad Keselowski, recovering from a broken leg in an offseason ski accident, was just trying to put in a full day. —Kevin Lyttle, Austin American Statesman, 1 Mar. 2026

This past offseason the Red Sox hired him as their new assistant director of pitching and head pitching strategist, specifically requesting permission from the Mariners to interview him. —Mac Cerullo, Boston Herald, 1 Mar. 2026

Last offseason, the Rams re-signed Tutu Atwell to a one-year $10-million contract and then landed Davante Adams for a two-year deal that included $25 million in guarantees. —Los Angeles Times, 1 Mar. 2026

Middleton is in the final months of his expiring contract and will be an unrestricted free agent in the offseason, which gives him the opportunity to negotiate a new contract with the Mavericks or sign with a new team. —Mike Curtis, Dallas Morning News, 1 Mar. 2026

Two Rapids offseason additions paid dividends in a 2-0 win in their home opener against the Portland Timbers on Saturday afternoon at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park, spoiling the homecoming of longtime Homegrown Cole Bassett. —Braidon Nourse, Denver Post, 1 Mar. 2026

That means expect bargain shopping, not whale hunting when free agency opens next week even though the roster has more holes than most offseasons. —Omar Kelly, Miami Herald, 1 Mar. 2026

The Sox added McDougal, 22, to their 40-man roster in the offseason. —Lamond Pope, Chicago Tribune, 28 Feb. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1847, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for offseason

• milesian
• partizan
• postseason
• preseason
• unreason
• reason
• season
• seizin
• treason

Kids Definition

off-season

noun

ˈȯf-ˌsēz-ᵊn

: a time when some activity is suspended or reduced