variants or off-the-grid
: not connected to or served by publicly or privately managed utilities (such as electricity, gas, or water)
When folks move to an off-grid, rural homestead, they often end up burning a lot of fossil fuels (and spending a lot of money) driving to and from town in an inefficient farm truck.Cam Mather
Four Harvard University students are bringing portable, sustainable power to off-grid areas in developing countries …Emily Aviles
It's hard to imagine a more inspiring space than this off-the-grid building (powered by nearby solar panels).Samuel Cochran
Traditionally, home schooling has been branded as a fringe activity—the domain of Bible-toting parents and off-the-grid hippies.Lynn Schnaiberg
off the grid adverb
or less commonly off-the-grid or off-grid
Not everyone can live off the grid. At least not yet. But until then, many of us are doing simple things to conserve energy, save money and help the environment. Paul Singley
I'm not taking about modern-day Thoreaus building shacks in the woods and living off-the-grid Paul McFedries
Right now people who live off-grid with PV panels on their roofs rely on ordinary batteries to get through the night. George Johnson

Examples of off-grid in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Their flagship product, the EV ARC™ (Electric Vehicle Autonomous Renewable Charger), is an off-grid charging system powered entirely by solar energy while their BeamSpot™ street light product combines wind energy, solar and on-board batteries to provide EV charging at the curb. Adam Sarhan, Forbes, 10 Dec. 2024 Kauffman's dream of off-grid island living stems from her lifelong love of tropical environments and sustainability, a passion that began with her geology degree. Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 4 Nov. 2024 During the three-week stay, there will be group therapy sessions, hypnotherapy, pleasure mapping, sand tray therapy and off-grid excursions into the desert. Dina Kaur, The Arizona Republic, 3 Dec. 2024 In 2020, two burnout sufferers launched the startup, Unplugged, offering digital detoxes at off-grid, tech-free cabins, most of which are located in the UK. Barnaby Lashbrooke, Forbes, 3 Dec. 2024 See all Example Sentences for off-grid 

Word History

First Known Use

1978, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of off-grid was in 1978

Dictionary Entries Near off-grid

Cite this Entry

“Off-grid.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/off-grid. Accessed 24 Dec. 2024.

Kids Definition

off-grid

adjective
variants or off-the-grid
: not connected to or served by publicly or privately managed utilities (as electricity, gas, or water)
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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