off·set | \ ˈȯf-ˌset 
, transitive senses are also ȯf-ˈset \
, transitive senses are also ȯf-ˈset \offset; offsetting; offsets
Definition of offset
(Entry 1 of 2)
1a : to place over against something : balance credits offset debits
b : to serve as a counterbalance for : compensate his speed offset his opponent's greater weight
2 : to form an offset in
offset a wall
: to become marked by offset
offset
nounoff·set | \ ˈȯf-ˌset \
\Definition of offset (Entry 2 of 2)
1 : something that serves to counterbalance or to compensate for something else
demands conspicuous offsets to the enemy's successes especially : either of two balancing ledger items
2a(1) : a short prostrate (see prostrate entry 1 sense 3) lateral shoot arising from the base of a plant
(2) : a small bulb arising from the base of another bulb
b : a lateral or collateral (see collateral entry 2 sense 2) branch (as of a family or race) : offshoot
c : a spur (see spur entry 1 sense 4a) from a range of hills
3a : a printing process in which an inked impression from a plate is first made on a rubber-blanketed cylinder and then transferred to the paper being printed
b : unintentional transfer of ink (as from a freshly printed sheet)
4a : displacement
b : a horizontal ledge on the face of a wall formed by a diminution of its thickness above
c : an abrupt change in the dimension or profile of an object (such as a bowl) or the part set off by such change
5 : something that sets off to advantage or embellishes something else : foil The clown was a humorous offset in the play.
6 : an abrupt bend in an object (such as a pipe or a rod) by which one part is turned aside out of line
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Synonyms for offset
Synonyms: Verb
- annul,
- cancel (out),
- compensate (for),
- correct,
- counteract,
- counterbalance,
- counterpoise,
- make up (for),
- negative,
- neutralize
Synonyms: Noun
- balance,
- canceler
- (or canceller),
- corrective,
- counter,
- counteraction,
- counterbalance,
- counterforce,
- counterpoise,
- counterweight,
- equipoise,
- neutralizer
Examples of offset in a Sentence
Verb
Gains in one area offset losses in another.
The limited storage space in the house is offset by the large garage. Noun
a better performance this time will be an offset to last year's dismal showing
symptoms that were striking for their abrupt onset and their equally abrupt offset
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Recent Examples on the Web: Verb But this modest dip in its domestic ranking has been offset by gains overseas.
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The Economist, "Officials in China abhor money-worship. A dating show glorifies it," 28 Nov. 2020 Still, hopes for a vaccine have offset concerns about spiking coronavirus cases in the U.S. and other parts of the world.
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Arkansas Online, "Stocks rise on Wall Street as S&P 500 hits record high," 27 Nov. 2020 The vaccine news has offset concerns about spiking coronavirus cases in the U.S. and other parts of the world.
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CBS News, "Nasdaq closes at record high as investors bank on vaccine," 27 Nov. 2020 But their inexperience was offset by energy, effort and athleticism.
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Giana Han, al, "Takeaways from Auburn’s season-opener vs. St. Joe’s," 27 Nov. 2020 Any incremental improvements in the Midwest has been offset by growing outbreaks elsewhere in the country.
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Star Tribune, "Virus surge grows from Midwest into coast-to-coast disaster," 25 Nov. 2020 Another factor weighing on growth last quarter was offset by a decline in mobile phone sales.
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Matthew Townsend, Bloomberg.com, "Best Buy Sinks as Early Holiday Deals Pull Sales Forward," 24 Nov. 2020 But the one-time cushion won’t completely offset the severe financial losses of the coronavirus pandemic.
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Chronicle Staff, SFChronicle.com, "Coronavirus news from the Bay Area: Nov. 13-19," 22 Nov. 2020 That offset good news on the vaccine front, with Pfizer announcing that a final late-trial analysis indicated its experimental vaccine was 95 percent effective.
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Harold Maass, TheWeek, "The daily business briefing: November 19, 2020," 19 Nov. 2020 Recent Examples on the Web: Noun Data released by the Commerce Department on Wednesday showed that personal income fell 0.7 percent in October as declines in government aid offset wage and salary gains.
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Ben Casselman, New York Times, "U.S. Economy Stumbles as the Coronavirus Spreads Widely," 25 Nov. 2020 The offset jaws place the user's hand above the material, allowing for the longer cut without interference.
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The Editors, Field & Stream, "Three Questions To Ask When Buying Tin Snips," 22 Nov. 2020 The 10-point plan is long on wind, hydrogen, EVs, carbon-capture, green bonds and carbon offset pricing.
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Bernhard Warner, Fortune, "Here are the most bullish trades for 2021—and, no, Bitcoin does not top the list," 18 Nov. 2020 Commissioners Weldon Crawford and Ken Ress objected to the request for a waiver of driveway offset requirements on a number of lots in Military Ridge.
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Bill Mchugh, NOLA.com, "Planning commission approves more subdivisions in marathon session," 12 Nov. 2020 For the past 17 years, Zimmerman has identified his $600,000 house in the Town of Clifton as his primary residence when claiming the state lottery credit as an offset on his property taxes.
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Molly Beck, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Dozens of Wisconsin Legislature seats are in play in Tuesday's elections," 3 Nov. 2020 This is all roughly consistent with estimates based on things like horizontal offset in streams that cross the fault.
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Scott K. Johnson, Ars Technica, "Besides the “Big One,” closer faults could also shake Portland," 24 Oct. 2020 The specific numbers are also fuzzy because both sides are using offset spending cuts or new tax revenues to pay for part of their respective bills.
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Andrew Taylor, Star Tribune, "White House ups bid in last-ditch COVID talks with Congress," 1 Oct. 2020 Use an offset spatula or dull knife to spread batter to edges of pan.
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Tribune News Service, cleveland, "Shepherd’s pie packed with earthy flavor for Halloween," 26 Oct. 2020
See MoreThese example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'offset.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
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More Definitions for offset
offset
verbEnglish Language Learners Definition of offset
: to cancel or reduce the effect of (something) : to create an equal balance between two things
See the full definition for offset in the English Language Learners Dictionary
offset
verboff·set | \ ˈȯf-ˌset \
\offset; offsetting
Kids Definition of offset
: to make up for
Gains in one state offset losses in another.
offset
nounoff·set | \ ˈȯf-ˌset \
\Legal Definition of offset
(Entry 1 of 2)
: a claim or amount that reduces or balances another claim or amount : set-off the creditor's own debt was an offset also : the reduction or balance achieved by such a claim
offset
transitive verboff·set | \ ˌȯf-ˈset \
\Legal Definition of offset (Entry 2 of 2)
: to balance, reduce, or calculate by reference to another amount
offset the debt against a credit
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Time Traveler for offset
The first known use of offset was circa 1555
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