setoff

1 of 2

noun

set·​off ˈset-ˌȯf How to pronounce setoff (audio)
1
: something that is set off against another thing:
2
: the reduction or discharge of a debt or claim by setting against it a distinct claim in favor of the debtor or party who is the object of the first claim (as in a lawsuit)
also : the offsetting claim itself
3

set off

2 of 2

verb

set off; setting off; sets off

transitive verb

1
a
: to put in relief : show up by contrast
c
: to set apart : make distinct or outstanding
2
a
: offset, compensate
more variety in the Lancashire weather to set off its most disagreeable phasesGeog. Jour.
b
: to make a setoff of
the respective totals shall be set off against one anotherO. R. Hobson
3
a
: to set in motion : cause to begin
b
: to cause to explode
4
: to measure off on a surface

intransitive verb

: to start out on a course or a journey
set off for home

Examples of setoff in a Sentence

Noun the architect used stone carvings as setoffs for the building's marble facing
Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
That setoff a worldwide hunt for the impact site. Roni Dengler, Discover Magazine, 21 Feb. 2019
Verb
Passage of the bill, just hours ahead of Saturday’s 12:01 a.m. shutdown deadline, set off a sprint in the Senate to avert a lapse in funding. Catie Edmondson, New York Times, 22 Mar. 2024 Together, Helen and Sam set off on a mission to investigate who killed Jason and why, leading them to uncover a vast, interconnected conspiracy linking the murky London underworld to a looming geopolitical crisis. Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 22 Mar. 2024 Venus fusing with Saturn sets off a new cycle of bonding. USA TODAY, 21 Mar. 2024 The high court's order Tuesday afternoon set off a fast-moving round of legal maneuvering in the lower court that has kept the law's status in limbo. Democrat-Gazette Staff From Wire Reports, arkansasonline.com, 21 Mar. 2024 The high court’s order Tuesday afternoon set off a fast-moving round of legal maneuvering in the lower court that has kept the law’s status in limbo. Nick Miroff, Washington Post, 20 Mar. 2024 To improve the road’s safety measures without damaging the tree, the girls install a motion detector that sets off a flashing light to notify drivers when people are crossing the street. IEEE Spectrum, 12 Mar. 2024 Two of its actors were nominated in supporting categories: Gosling, as Ken, and America Ferrera as Gloria, a frustrated working mom whose very human complications set off a crisis in Barbieland. Yvonne Villarreal, Los Angeles Times, 11 Mar. 2024 Such clashes have triggered escalations, including Hamas rocket fire, which set off a brief Israel-Hamas war in 2021. Democrat-Gazette Staff From Wire Reports, arkansasonline.com, 10 Mar. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'setoff.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1621, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

circa 1598, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of setoff was circa 1598

Dictionary Entries Near setoff

Cite this Entry

“Setoff.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/setoff. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

set off

verb
1
a
: to cause to show up clearly
bright flowers set off by dark shadows
b
: to separate from others : make noticeable
a direct quotation set off by quotation marks
2
a
: to cause to go off or explode
set off an alarm
set off a firecracker
b
: to cause to start : begin
set an argument off by your remarks
3
: to start out on a course or a trip
set off for home
set off in a boat

Legal Definition

set-off

1 of 2 noun
ˈset-ˌȯf
1
: the reduction or discharge of a debt by setting against it a claim in favor of the debtor
specifically : the reduction or discharge of a party's debt or claim by an assertion of another claim arising out of another transaction or cause of action against the other party
2
a
: a right to seek reduction or discharge of a debt or claim by countering a party's claim with an independent claim
b
: a counterclaim made by a defendant against a plaintiff for reduction or discharge of a debt by reason of an independent debt owed by the plaintiff to the defendant compare recoupment sense 2

set off

2 of 2 transitive verb
: to reduce or discharge by set-off : offset

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