off-frequency
|off/fre/quen/cy|
🇺🇸
/ˌɔfˈfriːkwənsi/
🇬🇧
/ˌɒfˈfriːkwənsi/
away from the expected frequency
Etymology
'off-frequency' is a modern English compound formed from the adverb/particle 'off' and the noun 'frequency', where 'off' meant 'away from' and 'frequency' denotes 'rate' or 'occurrence'.
'off' goes back to Old English 'of' (meaning 'away, away from'), while 'frequency' derives from Latin 'frequentia' (via French/Medieval Latin) meaning 'crowding, repeated occurrence'; the compound 'off-frequency' arose in technical English (20th century) to describe deviation from an intended frequency.
Initially the elements meant 'away' and 'rate/repetition' separately; over time the compound came to mean specifically 'away from the intended or nominal frequency' in technical contexts.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Adjective 1
not at the correct or expected frequency; deviating from the nominal frequency (often used in acoustics, electronics, and signal processing).
The off-frequency signal caused interference in the receiver.
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Adverb 1
in a manner that is not at the expected or intended frequency.
The filter responded off-frequency, allowing unwanted noise through.
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Last updated: 2025/09/01 19:25