plural trade-offs
1
: a situation in which you must choose between or balance two things that are opposite or cannot be had at the same time
—often + between
There's often a trade-off between the need for safety and the desire to work quickly.
2
US
: something that you do not want but must accept in order to have something that you want
The job pays well. The biggest trade-off is that you have to work long hours.
Cite this Entry
“Trade-off.” Merriam-Webster.com Simple Definition, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/simple/trade-off. Accessed 19 Jun. 2026.
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