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

La dolce vita in Italia (the sweet life in Italy) is renowned for a reason… Italy offers a wide variety of lifestyles, from countryside to cosmopolitan city, from beaches to mountains, and from luxury to completely off-grid. —Kathleen Peddicord, Forbes.com, 16 May 2025

Turns out, even the most off-grid, self-sufficient, nomadic existence is a construct that can be dismantled, piece by piece. —Jessica Kiang, Variety, 15 May 2025

This Jackery charges fully in just one hour from a wall outlet, includes a solar panel setup for off-grid use, and supports multiple device types from laptops to small appliances. —Juhi Wadia, PC Magazine, 13 May 2025

Camp and stargaze at Watoga State Park Courtesy of West Virginia Tourism Keep that off-grid energy going with a night under the stars at Watoga State Park, West Virginia’s largest state park and an official International Dark Sky Park. —West Virginia Tourism Office, AFAR Media, 9 May 2025

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)