offset
An offset is a consideration or amount that diminishes or balances the effect of something else. It acts as a counterweight or compensation to ensure equilibrium or to neutralize a negative impact.
Examples
3 of 5The savings on fuel were a welcome offset to the high initial cost of the electric car.
The savings on fuel were a welcome offset to the high initial cost of the electric car.
The corporation purchased carbon credits as an offset for their industrial emissions.
The corporation purchased carbon credits as an offset for their industrial emissions.
I'm hoping this bonus will be a good offset for all the overtime I've put in.
I'm hoping this bonus will be a good offset for all the overtime I've put in.
Antonyms
Word Family
Memory Tip
Think of a see-saw. If one side is too heavy (a cost or negative), you 'set' something 'off' on the other side to make it level again.
Quick Quiz
The increase in salary was a welcome ____ to the rising cost of living in the city.
Correct!
The correct answer is: offset
Examples
The savings on fuel were a welcome offset to the high initial cost of the electric car.
everydayThe savings on fuel were a welcome offset to the high initial cost of the electric car.
The corporation purchased carbon credits as an offset for their industrial emissions.
formalThe corporation purchased carbon credits as an offset for their industrial emissions.
I'm hoping this bonus will be a good offset for all the overtime I've put in.
informalI'm hoping this bonus will be a good offset for all the overtime I've put in.
In this study, the pedagogical benefits of the new software served as an offset to the learning curve required.
academicIn this study, the pedagogical benefits of the new software served as an offset to the learning curve required.
Management proposed a dividend increase as an offset to the recent drop in share price.
businessManagement proposed a dividend increase as an offset to the recent drop in share price.
Antonyms
Word Family
Common Collocations
Common Phrases
as an offset to
as an offset to
offset agreement
offset agreement
carbon offsetting
carbon offsetting
Often Confused With
Onset refers to the beginning of something, usually something unpleasant, while offset refers to balancing or compensating for something.
Outset means the start or commencement, whereas offset means a counterbalance.
Usage Notes
The word 'offset' is commonly used in both financial and environmental contexts. It can function as both a noun and a verb with nearly identical meanings related to balancing forces or costs.
Common Mistakes
Learners often use 'offset' to mean 'a replacement,' but it specifically implies a balancing effect where both the original thing and the offset exist or are accounted for.
Memory Tip
Think of a see-saw. If one side is too heavy (a cost or negative), you 'set' something 'off' on the other side to make it level again.
Word Origin
From 'off' and 'set,' originally referring to a botanical shoot that is 'set off' from the main stem to grow a new plant (mid-16th century).
Grammar Patterns
Cultural Context
In the 21st century, 'offset' is most culturally prominent in the phrase 'carbon offset,' referring to individuals or companies paying for environmental projects to balance their own pollution.
Quick Quiz
The increase in salary was a welcome ____ to the rising cost of living in the city.
Correct!
The correct answer is: offset
Related Grammar Rules
Related Vocabulary
Related Words
proceed
C1The noun form, typically used in the plural 'proceeds,' refers to the total amount of money received from a particular event, sale, or activity. It is a formal term used in academic, legal, and business contexts to describe the result of a financial transaction or fundraising effort.
individual
C1Relating to a single person or thing as distinct from a group. It describes something that is intended for, or used by, one person rather than a collective entity.
appropriately
B2To perform an action in a manner that is suitable, right, or proper for a particular situation, person, or occasion. It implies following specific social norms, professional standards, or logical requirements.
region
B2A region is an area of land that has common features, such as geography, climate, or culture, which distinguish it from other areas. It can refer to a large part of a country or the world and is often used in administrative or scientific contexts to organize space.
resource
B2A stock or supply of money, materials, staff, and other assets that can be drawn on by a person or organization in order to function effectively. In academic and informational contexts, it refers to a source of information or expertise used to support research or learning.
to
A1Used to indicate the place, person, or thing that someone or something moves toward. It can also mark the recipient of an action or the limit of a range.
and
A1A primary conjunction used to connect words, phrases, or clauses that are grammatically equal. It indicates addition, a sequence of events, or a relationship between two things.
a
A1A word used before a singular noun that is not specific or is being mentioned for the first time. It is used only before words that begin with a consonant sound to indicate one of something.
that
A1This word is a demonstrative pronoun used to indicate a specific person, object, or idea that is further away in space or time from the speaker. It is also used to refer back to something that has already been mentioned or to introduce a clause that identifies something.
I
A1The pronoun 'I' is used by a speaker or writer to refer to themselves as the subject of a verb. It is the first-person singular subject pronoun in English and is always capitalized regardless of its position in a sentence.
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