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
H. S. White2
: a giving up of one thing in return for another : exchange
trade off
transitive verb
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
Previous models featured removable batteries, but this trade-off allows the phones to be thinner and more appealing for everyday use beyond the job site.
—Iyaz Akhtar, PCMAG, 5 Mar. 2025
Spending And Investing Gen Z’s are prioritizing experiences like travel or concerts over saving for big goals, not out of recklessness but as a pragmatic trade-off for mental health amid a grind that feels endless.
—Jack Kelly, Forbes, 5 Mar. 2025
Republican lawmakers are saying that Americans are willing to endure higher prices as a trade-off for Donald Trump's policies, despite growing concerns over inflation.
—Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 4 Mar. 2025
Safeguarding American jobs and ensuring economic stability entails recognizing the realities of global trade and considering the trade-offs of instituting new policies.
—Bedassa Tadesse, The Conversation, 4 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for trade-off
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Iyaz Akhtar, PCMAG, 5 Mar. 2025
Spending And Investing Gen Z’s are prioritizing experiences like travel or concerts over saving for big goals, not out of recklessness but as a pragmatic trade-off for mental health amid a grind that feels endless.
—Jack Kelly, Forbes, 5 Mar. 2025
Republican lawmakers are saying that Americans are willing to endure higher prices as a trade-off for Donald Trump's policies, despite growing concerns over inflation.
—Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 4 Mar. 2025
Safeguarding American jobs and ensuring economic stability entails recognizing the realities of global trade and considering the trade-offs of instituting new policies.
—Bedassa Tadesse, The Conversation, 4 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for trade-off
Cite this Entry
“Trade-off.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/trade-off. Accessed 9 Mar. 2025.
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