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\ ˈtrād-ˌȯf 
\
\Definition of trade-off
1 : a balancing of factors all of which are not attainable at the same time
the education versus experience trade-off which governs personnel practices— H. S. White
2 : a giving up of one thing in return for another : exchange
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More Definitions for trade-off
trade-off
nounEnglish Language Learners Definition of trade-off
: a situation in which you must choose between or balance two things that are opposite or cannot be had at the same time
US : something that you do not want but must accept in order to have something that you want
See the full definition for trade-off in the English Language Learners Dictionary
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Time Traveler for trade-off
The first known use of trade-off was in 1909
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