stand·off
ˈstand-ˌȯf 
1
2
: used for holding something at a distance from a surface
a standoff insulator
stood off; standing off; stands off
Examples of standoff in a Sentence
Noun
The two governments are currently in a standoff over who has rights to the land.
after two hours they had played to a 5–5 standoff
Adjective
the client's standoff attitude suggested that this was going to be a strictly business relationship
Recent Examples on the Web
Ilana Arougheti, Kansas City Star, 24 May 2025
Game theory is a powerful tool for analyzing structured interactions, such as poker, price wars, and Cold War standoffs.
—Jason Snyder, Forbes.com, 23 May 2025
Usa Today, USA Today, 26 Apr. 2025
Everything felt familiar about the first as Victor Kristiansen stood off Ethan Nwaneri, allowing a dangerous cross to be clipped in.
—Rob Tanner, The Athletic, 16 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for standoff
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Noun
The Jackson County Legislature has been locked in a standoff with county executive Frank White over the 2025 county budget since January, when legislators first approved a budget that White quickly vetoed.
—Ilana Arougheti, Kansas City Star, 24 May 2025
Game theory is a powerful tool for analyzing structured interactions, such as poker, price wars, and Cold War standoffs.
—Jason Snyder, Forbes.com, 23 May 2025
Verb
Information may come in to challenge your worldview when Mars stands off with Pluto.
—Usa Today, USA Today, 26 Apr. 2025
Everything felt familiar about the first as Victor Kristiansen stood off Ethan Nwaneri, allowing a dangerous cross to be clipped in.
—Rob Tanner, The Athletic, 16 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for standoff
Cite this Entry
“Standoff.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/standoff. Accessed 2 Jun. 2025.
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