-off
1
a suffixal use of the adverb off, forming nouns that denote competitions, especially between the finalists of earlier competitions or as a means of deciding a tie:
cookoff; playoff; runoff.
Related Words
- Bake-Off
- cookoff
- flyoff
- shoot-off
-off
combining form
—used for a competition or elimination contest, especially in cooking:
barbecue cook-off; caviar taste-off.
[< probably < (run)off election, popularized by Pillsbury Co.’s bake-off contests]
-off 1
Suffix
- Forming nouns denoting competitions.
Etymology
From the particle off.
Derived terms
See also
-off 2
Suffix
- Alternative spelling of -ov
Etymology
See -ov.