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

The answers combine information with judgment about goals, risks, trade-offs and personal circumstances. — Leo S. Lo, The Conversation, 18 Sep. 2026

The trade-off approach can diplomatically highlight your existing load. — Melody Wilding, CNBC, 17 Sep. 2026

But the same trade-off kept resurfacing between security, control, convenience and flexibility. — Sergey Stopnevich, Forbes.com, 15 Sep. 2026

The refusal of too many politicians in both parties to make difficult trade-offs, instead choosing to say yes to almost everything, has put the country on its current path toward looming fiscal crises in the 2030s. — Editorial Board, Washington Post, 14 Sep. 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