trade-off

noun

ˈtrād-ˌȯf 

1

: a balancing of factors all of which are not attainable at the same time

Governments face a trade-off between privacy and increasing the effectiveness of tax collection.

—Ricardo Perez-Truglia and Ugo Troiano

2

: a giving up of one thing in return for another : exchange

trade off transitive verb

Synonyms of trade-off

• exchange

Examples of trade-off in a Sentence

a trade-off in which a company got a celebrity spokesperson and a fading star got some much-needed cash

Recent Examples on the Web

Bottom line Gold bars come in a wide range of sizes, formats and purities, each with trade-offs that affect cost, price per ounce and liquidity. —Jessica Walrack, USA Today, 16 Apr. 2026

That’s a two-season benefit from a single task — a smart trade-off for anyone optimizing their home upkeep. —Charlotte Observer, 16 Apr. 2026

There is a trade-off for that extra income. —Darla Mercado, Cfp®, CNBC, 15 Apr. 2026

The trade-off for that short-term satisfaction is the externalization of a thinking process that used to live inside a junior associate’s head. —Jeff Raikes, Fortune, 15 Apr. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1909, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Rhymes for trade-off

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

Kids Definition

trade-off

noun

ˈtrād-ˌȯf

1

: a balancing of things all of which cannot be had at the same time

2

: a giving up of one thing in return for another