1
: something that is set off against another thing:
a
2
: the reduction or discharge of a debt or claim by setting against it a distinct claim in favor of the debtor or party who is the object of the first claim (as in a lawsuit)
also
: the offsetting claim itself
3
set off; setting off; sets off
1
2
a
: offset, compensate
more variety in the Lancashire weather to set off its most disagreeable phases—
Geog. Jour.
Geog. Jour.
b
: to make a setoff of
the respective totals shall be set off against one another—O. R. Hobson
O. R. Hobson3
a
: to set in motion : cause to begin
b
: to cause to explode
4
: to measure off on a surface
: to start out on a course or a journey
set off for home
Synonyms
Examples of setoff in a Sentence
Noun
the architect used stone carvings as setoffs for the building's marble facing
Verb
set off a bomb
Recent Examples on the WebRoni Dengler, Discover Magazine, 21 Feb. 2019
Christie D’zurilla, Los Angeles Times, 23 May 2024
Lopez sets off on a summer concert tour In February, the singer announced her This Is Me...
—Benjamin Vanhoose, Peoplemag, 22 May 2024
That means there is a very real danger of miscalculation that could set off a cycle of retaliation.
—Alissa J. Rubin, New York Times, 22 May 2024
The non-fatal incident set off a wave of re-evaluation and restructuring at GM and Cruise, my colleague Jessica Mathews reports in a new Fortune investigation.
—Emma Hinchliffe, Fortune, 20 May 2024
The National Voter Registration Act of 1993 also set off a wave of registration by standardizing application paperwork.
—Ashley Lopez, NPR, 16 May 2024
Within the past couple of months, supermodel Bella Hadid has fully embraced the equestrian lifestyle and Beyoncé has branched into country music, setting off a newfound obsession with the trend, especially among Gen Z.
—Maggie Gillette, Better Homes & Gardens, 15 May 2024
Coming off a nice rest, this sure-to-be Sunday afternoon game in Green Bay between the two favorites in the NFC (at least today) should set off a great Thanksgiving week.
—Dieter Kurtenbach, The Mercury News, 15 May 2024
Audemars Piguet issued the Royal Oak in the 1970s, setting off a trend for luxurious steel sports watches that saw traditionalists like IWC and Patek Philippe chasing down this emerging market, with the Ingenieur and the Nautilus, respectively.
—Allen Farmelo, Robb Report, 11 May 2024
Noun
That setoff a worldwide hunt for the impact site.
—Roni Dengler, Discover Magazine, 21 Feb. 2019
Verb
Pearl Jam’s complaint set off a DOJ investigation into the company and its possible anti-competitive ticketing practices.
—Christie D’zurilla, Los Angeles Times, 23 May 2024
Lopez sets off on a summer concert tour In February, the singer announced her This Is Me...
—Benjamin Vanhoose, Peoplemag, 22 May 2024
That means there is a very real danger of miscalculation that could set off a cycle of retaliation.
—Alissa J. Rubin, New York Times, 22 May 2024
The non-fatal incident set off a wave of re-evaluation and restructuring at GM and Cruise, my colleague Jessica Mathews reports in a new Fortune investigation.
—Emma Hinchliffe, Fortune, 20 May 2024
The National Voter Registration Act of 1993 also set off a wave of registration by standardizing application paperwork.
—Ashley Lopez, NPR, 16 May 2024
Within the past couple of months, supermodel Bella Hadid has fully embraced the equestrian lifestyle and Beyoncé has branched into country music, setting off a newfound obsession with the trend, especially among Gen Z.
—Maggie Gillette, Better Homes & Gardens, 15 May 2024
Coming off a nice rest, this sure-to-be Sunday afternoon game in Green Bay between the two favorites in the NFC (at least today) should set off a great Thanksgiving week.
—Dieter Kurtenbach, The Mercury News, 15 May 2024
Audemars Piguet issued the Royal Oak in the 1970s, setting off a trend for luxurious steel sports watches that saw traditionalists like IWC and Patek Philippe chasing down this emerging market, with the Ingenieur and the Nautilus, respectively.
—Allen Farmelo, Robb Report, 11 May 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'setoff.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near setoff
Cite this Entry
“Setoff.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/setoff. Accessed 28 May. 2024.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share