as in closed-door
Related Words
Relevance
Dissimilar Words
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of off-the-record
Sometimes these occur during our quarterly CEO forums, in public but off-the-record exchanges.
—
Jeffrey Sonnenfeld, Time, 13 Jan. 2026
Puck promises off-the-record conversations with editors in their top subscription tier, and Lauren Sherman often recaps her off-the-record dinners on her podcast and in her column.
—Max Tani, semafor.com, 29 Dec. 2025
In an earlier era, athletic departments cultivated their most devoted supporters through backroom access—off-the-record chats, private events and insider tidbits for top donors.
—Daniel Libit, Sportico.com, 18 Nov. 2025
Join Vogue Business senior trends editor Lucy Maguire on Thursday 11 December for an off-the-record conversation with fellow Executive Members (previously referred to as Advanced Members) on how to connect with each generation of consumers.
—Vogue Business Team, Vogue, 12 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for off-the-record
Jeffrey Sonnenfeld, Time, 13 Jan. 2026
Puck promises off-the-record conversations with editors in their top subscription tier, and Lauren Sherman often recaps her off-the-record dinners on her podcast and in her column.
—Max Tani, semafor.com, 29 Dec. 2025
In an earlier era, athletic departments cultivated their most devoted supporters through backroom access—off-the-record chats, private events and insider tidbits for top donors.
—Daniel Libit, Sportico.com, 18 Nov. 2025
Join Vogue Business senior trends editor Lucy Maguire on Thursday 11 December for an off-the-record conversation with fellow Executive Members (previously referred to as Advanced Members) on how to connect with each generation of consumers.
—Vogue Business Team, Vogue, 12 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for off-the-record
Recent Examples of Synonyms for off-the-record
Adjective
-
Rubio, who is also Trump’s national security adviser, was one of three U.S. officials to participate in a closed-door meeting with the Russian delegation on Friday in Alaska.—
Alexis Simendinger,
The Hill,
20 Aug. 2025
-
The revelation was made by House Oversight Committee Chairman Rep. James Comer (R-KY) after Barr testified in a closed-door interview during the House Oversight Committee’s investigation of the federal government’s handling of Epstein’s case.—
Washington Examiner Staff,
The Washington Examiner,
19 Aug. 2025
Adjective
-
In 1985, Marty McFly (played by Lucas Hallauer) is a skateboarding high schooler who is accidentally sent back to 1955 in a time machine — ensconced in a DeLorean sports car — by nutty off-the-books scientist Doc Brown (David Josefsberg).—
Rod Stafford Hagwood,
Sun Sentinel,
5 Feb. 2026
-
The eponymous security droid protagonist (played by Alexander Skarsgård) actually chose its own name and, thanks to some off-the-books hacking, developed free will.—
Richard Edwards,
Space.com,
22 Dec. 2025
Adjective
-
At the center of the potential outreach is Vice President JD Vance, who is being considered for a return trip to Islamabad, where back-channel negotiations have quietly taken place.—
Sara Cook,
CBS News,
17 Apr. 2026
-
Epstein, the records show, tried to initiate a back-channel meeting between the Saudi crown prince and Qatar’s ex-prime minister.—
Miami Herald,
Miami Herald,
8 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
The New York Times then published confidential internal memos concerning the justices’ 5-4 decision to halt President Barack Obama’s Clean Power Plan in 2016.—
Michael W. McConnell,
Washington Post,
24 Apr. 2026
-
Van Dyke, who is stationed at Fort Bragg near Fayetteville, North Carolina, was charged Thursday with the unlawful use of confidential government information for personal gain, theft of nonpublic government information, commodities fraud, wire fraud and making an unlawful monetary transaction.—
Gary D. Robertson,
Chicago Tribune,
24 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Darrell Lee Vannostran, 40, was booked after he was arrested for the use of photo or video equipment in a clandestine manner in a private place.—
Sarah Rumpf-Whitten,
FOXNews.com,
22 Apr. 2026
-
In January, authorities announced more than 1,500 pounds of meth were seized from clandestine laboratories in the states of Durango, Sinaloa and Michoacán.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
21 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Over the following 12 days, investigators determined that Lulinski had used his cell phone on multiple occasions to take inappropriate and surreptitious photos or videos of minors during normal school activities.—
CBS Atlanta Digital Team,
CBS News,
16 Apr. 2026
-
Remember, this is Augusta National, where the surreptitious use of a cellphone is grounds for immediate banishment.—
Anthony Crupi,
Sportico.com,
10 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Off-the-record.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/off-the-record. Accessed 29 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
