# tradeoff

/ˈtɹeɪˌdɔf/ (US) · CEFR B2 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/tradeoff
Updated: 2026-10-15

## Definition

a choice where you give up one good thing to get another. You use it when both options have good and bad sides.

For teachers: 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.

## Usage notes

- Commonly appears in the pattern 'tradeoff between X and Y'.

---

From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.