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

While village life naturally leads to a connection with people, connection to the land is the focus at Fernwood, a nearly entirely off-grid organic farm a half-hour drive northwest. —Grainne McBride, Condé Nast Traveler, 13 Mar. 2026

In the future, Doral Hydrogen is also looking to replicate this off-grid model across its 1 GW global portfolio by proving that H2Pro’s hardware can handle the flicker of solar power without breaking. —Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 12 Mar. 2026

And more efficient operation means less battery or fuel drain and more time spent entirely off-grid without having to pop back into civilization for a re-up. —New Atlas, 4 Mar. 2026

Top 5 Can’t Miss Carved out of the green hillsides on the island's Caribbean coast, Mayreau Beach Club & Villas is a plush, private escape that marries the island's off-grid feel with the upscale luxury of the Grenadines. —Carley Rojas Avila, Travel + Leisure, 3 Mar. 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)