tradeoff

Meanings

1. 1nouncountable

   A situation where gaining one thing means accepting the loss of another.

   Grammar: Countable: a tradeoff, the tradeoff between two things.

   Patterns

   • a tradeoff between something and something
   • accept a tradeoff
   • there is a tradeoff

   There is always a tradeoff between speed and accuracy when you check work quickly.

   Moving nearer the office meant a tradeoff: a longer commute for a bigger flat.

   Managers must explain the tradeoffs before staff agree to the new schedule.

2. 2nouncountable

   The balance point chosen after weighing two competing benefits or costs.

   Grammar: Often used with 'the': the tradeoff we chose.

   Patterns

   • the tradeoff between something and something
   • choose a tradeoff
   • strike a tradeoff

   The final design is a tradeoff between cost and durability.

   Policymakers settled on a tradeoff that pleased neither side completely.

   Every budget is a tradeoff between what we want and what we can afford.

Word forms

Common combinations

a tradeoff between A and B

The report describes a tradeoff between lower taxes and better public services.

accept a tradeoff

Voters seem willing to accept a tradeoff on privacy for cheaper phones.

the classic tradeoff

This is the classic tradeoff between quality and price.

weigh the tradeoffs

Before signing, weigh the tradeoffs carefully.

Synonyms and how they differ

compromise

A compromise is an agreement where each side gives up something; a tradeoff is more neutral and simply names the exchange of one benefit for another.

balance

Balance suggests a stable, satisfactory mixture, while a tradeoff stresses that you must give something up.

Opposites

Word family

trade off verb

to exchange one thing for another, often in phrasal form 'trade off An against B'

Commonly confused: tradeoff or trade-in?

Practice

Make it your own

Write a sentence using “tradeoff”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.

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