: without premeditation or preparation : extempore
couldn't give the figures offhand
Examples of offhand in a Sentence
Adverb
I couldn't give them the figures offhand.
Do you happen to know, offhand, when he'll be back?
Adjective
It was just an offhand remark.
She spoke in an offhand manner.
Recent Examples on the Web
Sheri Linden, The Hollywood Reporter, 14 Apr. 2022
The Trolley Problem entails having to make difficult choices, contextually herein in the nature of driving decisions, and is often offhand dismissed by some as a misleading folly in the self-driving realm.
—Lance Eliot, Forbes, 1 Nov. 2021
Cynthia Littleton, Variety, 6 June 2025
Others noted that Lynch may well have encouraged Lyonne to experiment with AI, but that his offhand comment should not be taken as gospel.
—Dani Di Placido, Forbes.com, 5 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for offhand
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Adverb
Mara, Lisa and Astrid say bizarre and unsettling things, their cruelty and spite sometimes offhand, sometimes calculated.
—Sheri Linden, The Hollywood Reporter, 14 Apr. 2022
The Trolley Problem entails having to make difficult choices, contextually herein in the nature of driving decisions, and is often offhand dismissed by some as a misleading folly in the self-driving realm.
—Lance Eliot, Forbes, 1 Nov. 2021
Adjective
The focus of the doc expanded after Huffman-Rosevear made an offhand comment to Danluck during an interview.
—Cynthia Littleton, Variety, 6 June 2025
Others noted that Lynch may well have encouraged Lyonne to experiment with AI, but that his offhand comment should not be taken as gospel.
—Dani Di Placido, Forbes.com, 5 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for offhand
Cite this Entry
“Offhand.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/offhand. Accessed 4 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share