trade-off

noun

ˈtrād-ˌȯf 

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

trade off transitive verb

Synonyms

• 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

For institutions, the trade-off is simple: pay more for compliance and buy legitimacy, trust, and access to the market. —Roomy Khan, Forbes.com, 20 Aug. 2025

Yet many industry guests seemed to embrace the trade-off, relishing a festival embedded in a cultural maelstrom rather than the solitary centerpiece. —Callum McLennan, Variety, 20 Aug. 2025

The Dodgers constructed this outfield with an understandable trade-off of offense for defense in mind. —Fabian Ardaya, New York Times, 19 Aug. 2025

Importantly, Merz also does not appear to see any conflicts or trade-offs in his pro-EU and pro-Atlanticist positions, Fleck added. —Sophie Kiderlin, CNBC, 15 Aug. 2025

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