Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

backoff

Word Rarity Very rare

Frequency: Zipf frequency 1.71 in modern English

Syllables: back-off
IPA

21

Scrabble Score

7

Letters

2

Syllables

6

Unique Chars

Meaning

noun

The situation where an algorithm or process refrains from taking an action it would otherwise have taken.

Countable; Uncountable

noun

The situation where an incoming wave passes from shallower water to a deeper area, making the wave less steep and potentially unsurfable.

Countable; Uncountable

Example Sentences

"a backoff strategy to avoid collisions"
"The surfer is in the middle of a backoff. Paddle for unbroken waves butterfly-style, with both arms at the same time, instead of using the crawl stroke that got you out to where the waves are breaking."
"I fastened the board's leash to my ankle, jumped on and paddled past the backoff."

Etymology

Deverbal from back off.

Usage

Inflected Forms

backoffs (plural)

Questions

What does backoff mean?: The situation where an algorithm or process refrains from taking an action it would otherwise have taken.
Where does backoff come from?: Deverbal from back off.

How to pronounce backoff

Open the pronunciation page — Open the Speakur entry for “backoff”.
Read the phonetic spelling — Read the IPA spelling () so you know which sounds to aim for.
Play the audio — Click Play to hear reference audio for “backoff”.
Repeat and practice — Say “backoff” aloud, matching stress and vowels until it feels natural.