Offset Meaning
/ˈɒf.sɛt/Definition, CEFR level B2, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.
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Definition
nounAnything that acts as counterbalance; a compensating equivalent.
nounA 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.
Sentence Examples
The conservative character of the seating furniture is offset by the brightly coloured accessories.
For the last two months, your profit has offset your expenses.
CEFR Practice Quiz
The company's huge financial losses were ____ by profits from other divisions.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The company planted trees to ____ the carbon emissions produced by its manufacturing operations.
Word Origin & History
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”).
Literary Quotations & Historical Citations
"There were more applicants for situations than vacancies, and nothing better or more congenial to my taste offering, I accepted a place in a Saloon. The salary was $100 per month, which was somewhat of an offset against the peculiarities of the position."
— 1861, E. J. Guerin, Mountain Charley, page 39:
"Later, Timberlake would tell Playboy that he noticed Ryan's talent from the offset, saying, 'I thought he had charisma that was just beaming, which has turned out to serve him really well as an actor.'"
— 2017, Nick Johnstone, Ryan Gosling - The Biography:
"[…] [I]nfected tulips are weakened by the viruses that cause the very patterns and swirls that fascinated horticulturists and investors in the first place. Such bulbs tend to dwindle away instead of fattening up and producing offsets."
— 2014 September 26, Charles Quest-Ritson, “The Dutch garden where tulip bulbs live forever: Hortus Bulborum, a volunteer-run Dutch garden, is dedicated to conserving historic varieties before they vanish for good [print version: Inspired by a living bulb archive, 27 September 2014, p. G5]”, in The Daily Telegraph (Gardening):
"But the modest gain in comfort and operating convenience so secured has been more than offset, in my experience, by the draughtiness of the standard cab."
— 1953 June, Cecil J. Allen, “British Locomotive Practice and Performance”, in Railway Magazine, page 396:
"In order to gain first-hand experience of the operation of the new services I made a footplate journey on the only down two-hour train in the current timetable, the 8.30 a.m. Paddington [to Birmingham], a new express put on to offset the withdrawal of the 8.40 a.m. from Euston."
— 1960 February, R. C. Riley, “The London-Birmingham services - Past, Present and Future”, in Trains Illustrated, page 103:
Explore More B2 Vocabulary Words
CEFR Practice Quiz
The company's huge financial losses were ____ by profits from other divisions.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The company planted trees to ____ the carbon emissions produced by its manufacturing operations.