trade off
Sacrifice for gain
A trade off is an exchange where gaining one thing means losing another—accepting a disadvantage to secure an advantage.
Most decisions involve trade offs: The trade off for living downtown is higher rent.
As a verb, to trade off is to make such an exchange: We traded off space for location.
Also spelled tradeoff or trade-off.
Steadiness or amount owed
- weighingMeasuring mass or heft
- choiceAct of selecting
- calculationMathematical problem-solving process
- considerationCareful thought or compensation
evaluation · assessment · prioritization · judgment · deliberation · analysis · comparison · cost-benefit
Required payment amount
- concessionYielding a point
- lossBeing without something
- forfeitLose through violation
- compromiseAgreement through mutual sacrifice
surrender · relinquishment · price · downside · drawback · shortcoming · disadvantage · penalty
Negotiating mutually acceptable terms
- deal-makingNegotiating agreements between parties
- hagglingNegotiating a lower price
- conciliationResolving disputes through dialogue
- mediationIntervention to resolve conflict
settlement · agreement · accommodation · middle ground · compromise · consensus · arbitration · terms
Exchange one for another
- substitutionExchange of one for another
- interchangeReciprocal transfer between parties
- give-and-takeMutual concession between parties
- quid pro quoReciprocal exchange of value
reciprocity · conversion · replacement · switching · offset · compensation · counterbalance · commutation
balance
Steadiness or amount owed
- weighingMeasuring mass or heft
- choiceAct of selecting
- calculationMathematical problem-solving process
consideration · evaluation · assessment · prioritization · judgment · deliberation · analysis · comparison · cost-benefit · optimization
cost
Required payment amount
- concessionYielding a point
- lossBeing without something
- forfeitLose through violation
compromise · surrender · relinquishment · price · downside · drawback · shortcoming · disadvantage · penalty · opportunity cost
bargaining
Negotiating mutually acceptable terms
- deal-makingNegotiating agreements between parties
- hagglingNegotiating a lower price
- conciliationResolving disputes through dialogue
mediation · settlement · agreement · accommodation · middle ground · compromise · consensus · arbitration · terms · conditions
swap
Exchange one for another
- substitutionExchange of one for another
- interchangeReciprocal transfer between parties
- give-and-takeMutual concession between parties
quid pro quo · reciprocity · conversion · replacement · switching · offset · compensation · counterbalance · commutation · transposition
- take your turnplay, participate, go, try, step up
- evaluationreview, assessing, feedback, comparing, judgment
- fair exchangesbarter, swap, exchange rate, give and take
trade offwin-win
Advantageous to both sides
free lunch · windfall · something for nothing · bonus · no-brainer
trade offsynergy
Combined effect exceeding components
win-win · best of both worlds · win-win situation · complementarity · cake and eat it too
trade, trader, trading, trademark, trades, traders, trade-off, fair trade, trademarked