Dictionary

standoff en · ADJ

Pronunciation

• [ˈsteəndɑf] cot–caught merger, æ-raising
• (California) audio
• /ˈstændɔːf/ (Received-Pronunciation)
• /ˈstændɑf/ (cot-caught-merger)
• /ˈstændɒf/ (Received-Pronunciation)
• /ˈstændɔf/ (General-American)

Etymology

Deverbal from stand off.

Meanings

1. (not-comparable) For use at a distance sufficient from the target to allow defensive fire to be evaded.
   • a standoff bomb, missile, or weapon

Forms

standoff en · NOUN

Pronunciation

• [ˈsteəndɑf] cot–caught merger, æ-raising
• (California) audio
• /ˈstændɔːf/ (Received-Pronunciation)
• /ˈstændɑf/ (cot-caught-merger)
• /ˈstændɒf/ (Received-Pronunciation)
• /ˈstændɔf/ (General-American)

Etymology

Deverbal from stand off.

Meanings

1. A device which maintains a fixed distance between two objects, especially between a surface and a sign or electrical wiring.
2. A deadlocked confrontation between antagonists.
   • The Sacramento County Sheriff’s Office detained an adult stepson who broke into his parents’ home and was involved in a standoff with deputies in Orangevale. 2026 January 1, Emma Kidger, “Orangevale home invasion: Stepson in standoff with sheriff’s office”, in KTXL, archived from the original on 02 Jan 2026:
   • A tense standoff between demonstrators and police continued overnight.
   • In recent months, both Batman V Superman: Dawn Of Justice and Captain America: Civil War have offered up big, flashy superhero standoffs as feuds of ideology and stubborn will. 2016 May 23, Ignatiy Vishnevetsky, “Apocalypse pits the strengths of the X-Men series against the weaknesses”, in The Onion AV Club, archived from the original on 05 Aug 2016:
   • I don't want to get involved in the standoff between those two.

Forms

Coordinates

holdoff · stalemate

Deriveds

porcelain standoff insulator · standoff markup · Mexican standoff · standoffish · standoff weapon · standoff missile

Translations (27)

ru проста́вка (a device which maintains a fixed distance) · es enfrentamiento (a deadlocked confrontation) · ca bloqueig (a deadlocked confrontation) · de Abstandhalter (a device which maintains a fixed distance) · ru распо́рка (a device which maintains a fixed distance) · it stallo (a deadlocked confrontation) · hu holtpont (a deadlocked confrontation) · pl sytuacja patowa (a deadlocked confrontation) · it impasse (a deadlocked confrontation) · hu patthelyzet (a deadlocked confrontation) · ru противостоя́ние (a deadlocked confrontation) · es punto muerto (a deadlocked confrontation) · pl impas (a deadlocked confrontation) · pl przeciwwaga (a device which maintains a fixed distance) · ca enfrontament (a deadlocked confrontation) · pt confronto (a deadlocked confrontation) · de Pattsituation (a deadlocked confrontation) · ca taules (a deadlocked confrontation) · sh razmaknica (a device which maintains a fixed distance) · de festgefahrene Lage (a deadlocked confrontation) · de Halter (a device which maintains a fixed distance) · fr entretoise filetée (a device which maintains a fixed distance) · es impás (a deadlocked confrontation) · es impasse (a deadlocked confrontation) · pt impasse (a deadlocked confrontation) · pl pat (a deadlocked confrontation) · es estancamiento (a deadlocked confrontation)

standoff en · VERB

Pronunciation

• [ˈsteəndɑf] cot–caught merger, æ-raising
• (California) audio
• /ˈstændɔːf/ (Received-Pronunciation)
• /ˈstændɑf/ (cot-caught-merger)
• /ˈstændɒf/ (Received-Pronunciation)
• /ˈstændɔf/ (General-American)

Etymology

Deverbal from stand off.

Meanings

1. (alt-of, nonstandard) Nonstandard spelling of stand off.
   alt of stand off

Forms