standoff

1 of 3

noun

stand·​off ˈstand-ˌȯf 

1

a

: tie, deadlock

the two teams played to a standoff

b

: a counterbalancing effect

2

: the act of standing off

standoff

2 of 3

adjective

1

: standoffish

2

: used for holding something at a distance from a surface

a standoff insulator

stand off

3 of 3

verb

stood off; standing off; stands off

intransitive verb

1

: to stay at a distance from something

2

: to sail away from the shore

transitive verb

1

: to keep from advancing : repel

2

: put off, stall

Synonyms of standoff

Noun

• tie
• draw

Adjective

• detached
• distant
• cold
• remote
• cool
• dry

Examples of standoff in a Sentence

Noun

The two governments are currently in a standoff over who has rights to the land.

after two hours they had played to a 5–5 standoff

Adjective

the client's standoff attitude suggested that this was going to be a strictly business relationship

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Fast-growing gas station, market chain looks to end standoff. — Staff Report, Hartford Courant, 1 Oct. 2026

The film follows a homeowner locked in a standoff with his contractor over the last payment for a renovation, a dispute drawn from Niu Jianrong’s own experience. — Jenny S. Li, Variety, 30 Sep. 2026

Verb

As Pete Golding stood at the podium after securing the second-biggest win of his short tenure as head coach (Sugar Bowl), super agent Jimmy Sexton stood off to the side. — Trey Wallace Outkick, FOXNews.com, 20 Sep. 2026

Ervine and Raza shared a 98-run stand off 104 balls that gave the home team glimmer of hope before Ellis knocked back the off stump of Evans in the 31st over and also accounted for the wickets of two tail-enders. — ABC News, 15 Sep. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

circa 1835, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Adjective

1837, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1591, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 2

Phrases Containing standoff

• Mexican standoff

Rhymes for standoff

• ashraf
• checkoff
• cutoff
• falloff
• handoff
• kickoff
• layoff
• liftoff
• markoff
• markov
• payoff
• playoff

Kids Definition

standoff

noun

stand·​off

ˈstan-ˌdȯf

: a contest or game in which there is no winner : draw