buy off

verb

bought off; buying off; buys off

transitive verb

1
: to induce to refrain (as from prosecution) by a payment or other consideration
2
: to free (as from military service) by payment

Examples of buy off in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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There were attempts to buy off players from Saint Louis, LaSalle and Fordham, members of the Atlantic 10 Conference, generally considered one of the best leagues outside traditional powerhouses of the Big East, Big 12, Big Ten, ACC and SEC. Tom Winter, NBC news, 15 Jan. 2026 The series takes its heroine’s emotional crossroads seriously while offering the fantasy of life lived in a perpetual glow, as sweet as a peach bought off a stand on the side of the road. Sophie Gilbert, The Atlantic, 17 Dec. 2025 China floods the zone with lots of engineers, almost buying off the votes. Krysta Escobar, CNBC, 6 Dec. 2025 Bothersome ghosts can be bought off or sent packing. Dan Piepenbring, Harpers Magazine, 23 Nov. 2025 See All Example Sentences for buy off

Word History

First Known Use

1614, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Time Traveler
The first known use of buy off was in 1614

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Cite this Entry

“Buy off.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/buy%20off. Accessed 2 Feb. 2026.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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