standoff

Language: en

🇺🇸 /ˈstæˌndɔf/

📖 Definitions

  1. noun
    A situation in which two opposing parties are unable to reach an agreement or make progress, resulting in a deadlock or impasse.; A confrontation, especially an armed one, in which opposing forces face each other without either side advancing or retreating.; A tie or draw in a competition or contest where neither side wins.; A small spacer or mounting device used to keep two components at a fixed distance from each other, commonly used in electronics and construction.

🔗 Details

Word forms

countable Plural: standoffs

Collocations

reach a standoffend in a standoffnuclear standoffMexican standoffpolitical standoffbreak the standoff

Derivatives

standoffish

Synonyms

stalematedeadlockimpassestandstilldraw

Antonyms

resolutionbreakthroughagreement

Commonly confused

stand off
EN: 'Stand off' (two words) is a phrasal verb meaning to keep at a distance; 'standoff' (one word) is the noun meaning a deadlock or stalemate.

Spelling tips

EN: The noun is written as one word ('standoff'), while the verb is two words ('stand off'). The adjective 'standoffish' retains the double 'f'.

💬 Examples

  1. The negotiations ended in a standoff, with neither side willing to compromise.

  2. The police standoff with the armed suspect lasted over six hours.

  3. The match ended in a standoff, with both teams scoring two goals each.

  4. The circuit board was mounted to the chassis using brass standoffs.