Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

offset

/ˈɔf.sɛt/

Word Rarity Rare

Frequency: Zipf frequency 3.99 in modern English

Syllables: off-set
IPA: /ˈɔf.sɛt/

12

Scrabble Score

6

Letters

2

Syllables

5

Unique Chars

Meaning

noun

Anything that acts as counterbalance; a compensating equivalent.

noun

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.

noun

A time at which something begins; outset.

noun

The offset printing process, in which ink is carried from a metal plate to a rubber blanket and from there to the printing surface.

noun

The difference between a target memory address and a base address.

noun

The displacement between the base level of a measurement and the signal's real base level.

noun

The distance by which one thing is out of alignment with another.

noun

A short distance measured at right angles from a line actually run to some point in an irregular boundary, or to some object.

Example Sentences

"Today's victory was an offset to yesterday's defeat."
"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."
"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.'"
"offset lithographs"
"offset process"
"An array of bytes uses its index as the offset, of words a multiple thereof."

Etymology

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”).

Word Breakdown

Prefix: off

Regional Pronunciation

American English: /ˈɔf.sɛt/
British English: /ˈɒf.sɛt/

Usage

Transitive verb

Inflected Forms

offsets (plural) off-set (alternative) offsets (present, singular) offsetting (participle, present) offsetted (participle, past) offsetted (past, rare) more offset (comparative) most offset (superlative)

Derived Forms

nonoffset offsettable offsetter unoffset

Phrases

biodiversity offset carbon offset CO₂ offset offset lithography offset overhand bend offset staff offset time photo-offset

Frequently Paired Words

equiponderate onset

Synonyms

countervail compensate for counterbalance equivalence offlay offset offstand set off

Antonyms

surmount overcome overpoise overpower

Rhymes With

get let set yet met forget bet net debt et upset threat

Questions

How do you pronounce offset?: The recorded pronunciation is /ˈɔf.sɛt/.
What does offset mean?: Anything that acts as counterbalance; a compensating equivalent.
Where does offset come from?: 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”).

How to pronounce offset

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