offset

CEFRB2

/ˈɒf.sɛt/

verb · noun

Türkçe translations

Translating…

In plain English

  1. 01

    verb

    To balance or reduce the effect of something.

  2. 02

    noun

    A result that balances or reduces another result.

Examples

  • For the last two months, your profit has offset your expenses.

  • The conservative character of the seating furniture is offset by the brightly coloured accessories.

At a glance

Sits at B2 on the CEFR scale

Senses
5
Parts of speech
2
Citations
5
Synonyms
5

Deep Dive

verb

Extra meanings

  1. A form of countertrade arrangement, in which the seller agrees to purchase within a set time frame products of a certain value from the buying country. This kind of agreement may be used in large international public sector contracts such as arms sales.

  2. A time at which something begins; outset.

noun

Extra meaning

  1. Anything that acts as counterbalance; a compensating equivalent.

More examples

In context

  • Today's victory was an offset to yesterday's defeat.

  • offset lithographs

  • offset process

Synonyms

Antonyms

Quick test

Two questions on this entry. Nothing is scored.

Question 1 · Quick check

The company's huge financial losses were blank by profits from other divisions.

Practise this properly in the app, where the word comes back before you forget it.

Nearby

Origin

verb

From off- + set, used to construct the noun form of the verb to set off. Compare Middle English ofsetten (“to encumber, harass, beset, besiege”), from Old English ofsettan (“to press, oppress, overwhelm, crush”).