Merriam-Webster Logo
SINCE 1828
Menu
dictionary thesaurus

trade-off

noun
\ 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
Other Words from trade-off Synonyms Learn More about trade-off

Keep scrolling for more

Other Words from trade-off

trade off transitive verb

First Known Use of trade-off

1909, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Keep scrolling for more

Learn More about trade-off

Statistics for trade-off

Look-up Popularity

Time Traveler for trade-off

The first known use of trade-off was in 1909

See more words from the same year

Keep scrolling for more

More Definitions for trade-off

trade-off

noun

English 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

More from Merriam-Webster on trade-off

Rhyming Dictionary: Words that rhyme with trade-off

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for trade-off

Comments on trade-off

What made you want to look up trade-off? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

Show Comments  Hide Comments 

WORD OF THE DAY

obsequious

marked by fawning attentiveness

Get Word of the Day daily email!

Test Your Vocabulary

What did you just call me?! A Quiz

  • rows-of-various-emoji
  • If a member of the audience describes your speech as bombastic, does that person mean it is:
True or False

Test your knowledge - and maybe learn something along the way.

TAKE THE QUIZ
Add Diction

Test Your Knowledge - and learn some interesting things along the way.

TAKE THE QUIZ

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Words at Play

Ask the Editors

Word Games