Word
tradeoff
Phoneticstrade·off, stress on the first syllable
/ˈtɹeɪˌdɔf/
Countable noun
Definition
n. a choice where you give up one good thing to get another. You use it when both options have good and bad sides.
n. a balance achieved between two desirable but incompatible features; a sacrifice of one benefit to gain another. Often expressed through the pattern 'tradeoff between X and Y'.
Examples
“There is a tradeoff between price and quality.”
“Working from home offers a clear tradeoff between saving time on commuting and missing daily contact with colleagues.”
“Policymakers face a difficult tradeoff between encouraging rapid economic growth and protecting natural resources that cannot be replaced once lost.”
Examples
simple
“There is a tradeoff between price and quality.”
contextual
“Working from home offers a clear tradeoff between saving time on commuting and missing daily contact with colleagues.”
complex
“Policymakers face a difficult tradeoff between encouraging rapid economic growth and protecting natural resources that cannot be replaced once lost.”
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “tradeoff” in context.
Verb
01. accept tradeoff
“She accepted the tradeoff of lower pay for flexible hours.”
verb + noun
02. face tradeoff
“Students face a tradeoff between studying and social life.”
verb + noun
03. make tradeoff
“We had to make a tradeoff between cost and comfort.”
verb + noun
Adjective
04. classic tradeoff
“Price versus quality is a classic tradeoff in shopping.”
adj + noun
05. difficult tradeoff
“Choosing between higher pay and free time is a difficult tradeoff.”
adj + noun
06. inevitable tradeoff
“Less sleep is an inevitable tradeoff during exam season.”
adj + noun
07. painful tradeoff
“Closing the factory was a painful tradeoff to save the company.”
adj + noun
Noun
08. example of tradeoff
“Paying for express delivery is a good example of a tradeoff.”
noun + prep + noun
09. tradeoff between
“There is a tradeoff between working hard and staying healthy.”
noun + prep
10. accept the inevitable tradeoff
“Commuters must accept the inevitable tradeoff of time for lower rent.”
11. face a painful tradeoff
“The city faced a painful tradeoff between jobs and pollution.”
12. make a difficult tradeoff
“She had to make a difficult tradeoff between career and family.”
Usage
Commonly appears in the pattern 'tradeoff between X and Y'.
Real-World Examples
“Satisfying the dual objectives of generating a high income and maintaining a stable principal, therefore, requires a tradeoff.” Etymology
Deverbal from trade off.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Related words
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
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