handoff or hand-off

Meanings

1. 1nouncountable

   The act of passing something, such as a duty, a customer, or a ball, from one person to another.

   Grammar: Countable: you can say 'a handoff' or 'handoffs'. It often appears in the phrase 'a handoff from X to Y'.

   Patterns

   • a handoff from someone to someone
   • a smooth handoff
   • the handoff of something

   The handoff from the night nurse to the day nurse takes about twenty minutes.

   The quarterback executed a perfect handoff to the running back.

   We need a clear handoff of responsibilities when the project changes managers.

2. 2nouncountabletechnicalcomputing

   In computing and telecommunications, the transfer of a call or data connection from one cell or network to another without interruption.

   Grammar: Countable and technical. Often used with 'call' or 'data': a call handoff.

   Patterns

   • a call handoff
   • a handoff between networks
   • seamless handoff

   The mobile network performs a handoff when you move between coverage areas.

   A seamless handoff ensures that your video call doesn't drop when you leave the house.

   Engineers are testing the handoff between the 4G and 5G networks.

Word forms

Common combinations

smooth handoff

The transition was a smooth handoff with no downtime.

handoff meeting

We scheduled a handoff meeting to discuss the client's needs.

handoff procedure

The hospital has a strict handoff procedure for shift changes.

make a handoff

The point guard made a quick handoff to his teammate.

Synonyms and how they differ

transfer

Transfer is a more general word for moving something from one place or person to another; handoff often implies a direct, immediate passing, especially in work or sports.

pass

In sports, a pass is a throw or kick to a teammate; a handoff is specifically a direct hand-to-hand exchange, as in rugby or American football.

Word family

hand off phrasal verb

To give something to someone else, especially a duty or a ball.

handover noun

A British term for the act of giving control or responsibility to someone else, often used in business and politics.

Commonly confused: handoff or hand-off or handout?

Practice

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