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Definition of tradeoff

tradeoff

/ˈtreɪdˌɔːf/
(UK: trade-off)
trade · off
Plural:tradeoffs
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tradeoff Lexical Profile

tradeoff Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

A balance achieved between two desirable but incompatible features; a compromise in which one aspect is given up in return for another.

Example

"When designing the new electric car, the engineers faced a difficult tradeoff between battery range and vehicle weight."

Synonyms
View all synonyms for tradeoff

Word Nuance & Usage

The closed spelling "tradeoff" or hyphenated "trade-off" is used for the noun, whereas the two-word phrase "trade off" is used as a phrasal verb (e.g., "We had to trade off speed for accuracy").

• Nearby Words

trade
trademark
tradename
tradeoff
trader
tradescantia
tradesfolk

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Tradeoff. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/tradeoff
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