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

But for another week, fans will have to wait for on-field NFL action and will face a reminder of the lengthy offseason that looms after Super Bowl 60. —Jacob Camenker, USA Today, 1 Feb. 2026

The Broncos will add multiple offensive staffers this offseason. —Troy Renck, Denver Post, 1 Feb. 2026

Schlossnagle schemed in the offseason to ensure the reigning SEC champs would be deeper at all positions after a 44-14 finish. —Cedric Golden, Austin American Statesman, 1 Feb. 2026

The club added outfielders Lane Thomas and Isaac Collins this offseason. —Kansas City Star, 1 Feb. 2026

But between Story’s offseason camp, the Red Sox rookie development program and now big league spring training, Romero is getting valuable experience that should benefit him in the long run. —Mac Cerullo, Boston Herald, 1 Feb. 2026

The Vikings moved forward with McCarthy last offseason, then missed the playoffs at 9-8 as McCarthy struggled — inviting second-guessing about their decision to not re-sign Darnold. —Peter Sblendorio, New York Daily News, 1 Feb. 2026

Gardner, 24, went undrafted in 2023 out of Little Rock and signed a two-way contract with the Heat this past offseason after shining for Miami in summer league. —Anthony Chiang, Miami Herald, 1 Feb. 2026

The Giants’ offseason was the best that president of baseball operations Buster Posey and general manager Zack Minasian could do while operating under an ownership prohibition to stack another long-term contract on top of their core of Rafael Devers, Willy Adames, Matt Chapman and Logan Webb. —Andrew Baggarly, New York Times, 1 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