off-grid

adjective

ˈȯf-ˈgrid 

variants or off-the-grid

ˈȯf-ṯẖə-ˈgrid 

: not connected to or served by publicly or privately managed utilities (such as electricity, gas, or water)

When folks move to an off-grid, rural homestead, they often end up burning a lot of fossil fuels (and spending a lot of money) driving to and from town in an inefficient farm truck.

—Cam Mather

Four Harvard University students are bringing portable, sustainable power to off-grid areas in developing countries …

—Emily Aviles

It's hard to imagine a more inspiring space than this off-the-grid building (powered by nearby solar panels).

—Samuel Cochran

Traditionally, home schooling has been branded as a fringe activity—the domain of Bible-toting parents and off-the-grid hippies.

—Lynn Schnaiberg

off the grid adverb

or less commonly off-the-grid or off-grid

Not everyone can live off the grid. At least not yet. But until then, many of us are doing simple things to conserve energy, save money and help the environment.

—Paul Singley

I'm not taking about modern-day Thoreaus building shacks in the woods and living off-the-grid …

—Paul McFedries

Right now people who live off-grid with PV panels on their roofs rely on ordinary batteries to get through the night.

—George Johnson

Examples of off-grid in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Brown was the eldest of Billy and Ami's seven children and appeared alongside his parents and siblings throughout the early years of the series, helping introduce viewers to the family’s off-grid lifestyle in Alaska and later Washington. —Deirdre Durkan, PEOPLE, 31 May 2026

Camping, van life and off-grid touring have also helped fuel demand for compact, high-capacity battery systems that can run everything from laptops and lighting to fridges, induction cooktops and power tools. —New Atlas, 31 May 2026

This technology integrates satellite connectivity directly with 5G cellular, promising a significant upgrade for off-grid communication. —David Phelan, Forbes.com, 26 May 2026

Interestingly, this type of scalable, off-grid architecture could eventually inform the energy systems needed for lunar exploration and future moon bases. —Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 22 May 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1978, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

off-grid

adjective

ˈȯf-ˈgrid 

variants or off-the-grid

ˈȯf-ṯẖə-ˈgrid 

: not connected to or served by publicly or privately managed utilities (as electricity, gas, or water)