standoff
|stan/doff|
🇺🇸
/ˈstændɔːf/
🇬🇧
/ˈstændɒf/
standing apart / kept at a distance
Etymology
'standoff' originates from English, specifically the phrase 'stand off', where 'stand' meant 'to be upright or remain' and 'off' meant 'at a distance or away'.
'standoff' changed from the two-word verb phrase 'stand off' to the hyphenated form 'stand-off' and eventually became the single word 'standoff' in modern English.
Initially it meant 'to keep at a distance' or 'to hold something off'; over time it evolved into the noun sense of 'an impasse or confrontation' and the adjective sense of 'aloof'.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
a situation in which no progress can be made or no agreement is reached; an impasse or stalemate between parties.
Negotiations reached a standoff after both sides refused to budge.
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Noun 2
a tense confrontation or showdown, often involving a threat of violence (e.g., an armed standoff).
Police were involved in a standoff with an armed suspect for several hours.
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Last updated: 2025/11/06 05:37