Trade-off | n. 1. the exchange of one thing (object, right, opportunity) for another of approximately equal value, so as to seal a bargain, or effect a compromise. [ PJC ] 2. the giving up of one desired objective in order to attain another, when both cannot be achieved at the same time; as, the factory workers viewed the trade-off of air quality for jobs as a necessary evil. [ PJC ] Variants: Tradeoff |