trade-off

/ˈtreɪd ˌɒf/

a compromise between two desirable but incompatible features

The new software has a trade-off between speed and security.

It means the software is faster but less secure, or vice versa.

Business

formalinformal

a situation where choosing one option means giving up another

There's always a trade-off between cost and quality.

You can buy something cheap, but it may not last long.

The trade-off between privacy and convenience is a common debate.

People often choose convenience over privacy when using apps.

Often used in business, economics, and decision-making contexts.

Collocations

make a trade-offto decide between two optionscost-benefit trade-offweighing the pros and cons

a mutual compromise

evaluating trade-offs

Use 'trade-off' when discussing choices where one benefit comes at the expense of another.

Always use 'trade-off' as a noun, not a verb.

From 'trade' (exchange) + 'off' (as in 'give up'), first recorded in the 1960s.

Often used in formal and informal contexts, especially in business and economics.

trade

exchange or compromise

root

off

giving up something

suffix

English Dictionary