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
Synonyms
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
Policy involves trade-offs, setting priorities, risk-reward calculations, and, in democracies anyway, a continuing political debate.
—The Editors, National Review, 27 Jan. 2025
There’s an inherent trade-off between operational simplicity and quality of software.
—Ray Zhou, Forbes, 24 Jan. 2025
Cloud connections also grant perks like remote monitoring, and many customers have accepted the trade-off.
—Kevin Purdy, Ars Technica, 21 Jan. 2025
Finally, Lupo acknowledges that no state is going to excel in all areas, so parents should aim to balance top priorities and consider trade-offs while ensuring that basics such as safety and healthcare meet their standards.
—Melissa Willets, Parents, 17 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for trade-off 
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The Editors, National Review, 27 Jan. 2025
There’s an inherent trade-off between operational simplicity and quality of software.
—Ray Zhou, Forbes, 24 Jan. 2025
Cloud connections also grant perks like remote monitoring, and many customers have accepted the trade-off.
—Kevin Purdy, Ars Technica, 21 Jan. 2025
Finally, Lupo acknowledges that no state is going to excel in all areas, so parents should aim to balance top priorities and consider trade-offs while ensuring that basics such as safety and healthcare meet their standards.
—Melissa Willets, Parents, 17 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for trade-off
Dictionary Entries Near trade-off
Cite this Entry
“Trade-off.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/trade-off. Accessed 31 Jan. 2025.
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