1
: a balancing of factors all of which are not attainable at the same time
the education versus experience trade-off which governs personnel practices—
H. S. White
H. S. White2
: a giving up of one thing in return for another : exchange
trade off
transitive verb
Examples of trade-off in a Sentence
a trade-off in which a company got a celebrity spokesperson and a fading star got some much-needed cash
Recent Examples on the Web
An observed loss of body fat and protein reserves was evidently a trade-off for resistance to mites.
—Elizabeth Rayne, ArsTechnica, 2 May 2025
The trade-off is that the materials feel pretty flimsy—especially the blending pitcher, which is made of pretty thin BPA-free plastic.
—Emily Farris, Bon Appetit Magazine, 2 May 2025
These organizations demonstrate that mindful leadership is not a trade-off with performance but a pathway to better performance.
—Naz Beheshti, Forbes.com, 1 May 2025
As Mills explained, there is always some trade-off—a bra with little to no support may cause breast pain, while a highly supportive bra might put more stress on your body.
—Julia Ries, Health, 1 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for trade-off
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Elizabeth Rayne, ArsTechnica, 2 May 2025
The trade-off is that the materials feel pretty flimsy—especially the blending pitcher, which is made of pretty thin BPA-free plastic.
—Emily Farris, Bon Appetit Magazine, 2 May 2025
These organizations demonstrate that mindful leadership is not a trade-off with performance but a pathway to better performance.
—Naz Beheshti, Forbes.com, 1 May 2025
As Mills explained, there is always some trade-off—a bra with little to no support may cause breast pain, while a highly supportive bra might put more stress on your body.
—Julia Ries, Health, 1 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for trade-off
Cite this Entry
“Trade-off.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/trade-off. Accessed 7 May. 2025.
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