off-peak — Relating to a time when demand, activity, or usage is lower than usual, such as travel or electricity use
Part of speech: ADJECTIVE
Definition: Relating to a time when demand, activity, or usage is lower than usual, such as travel or electricity use
Pronunciation (IPA): /ˌɔːfˈpiːk/
Example Sentences
- My grandfather always says, 'Why fight the crowd? I only shop during off-peak hours!'
- Electricity is cheaper during off-peak hours, usually late at night.
- I booked an off-peak flight to save money, but it left at 4 AM!
off-peak
ADJECTIVE[/ˌɔːfˈpiːk/]
Relating to a time when demand, activity, or usage is lower than usual, such as travel or electricity use
The subway is nearly empty during off-peak hours on a quiet Tuesday afternoon.
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🎤Pronunciation
🌳Etymology
Origin
Off-peak is a compound word combining 'off' (away from) and 'peak' (summit, pinnacle). Originally, 'peak' referred to a mountain summit, but in the 20th century it was extended to mean the highest point of demand or activity. The prefix 'off' was added to denote times outside this maximum period, creating a term widely used in transportation, utilities, and tourism to describe periods of low usage.
Breakdown
off- (away from, not at) + peak (highest point of demand or activity) = times outside maximum usage periods. The compound emerged from the semantic shift of 'peak' from geographical to commercial contexts.
🎵Rhyme
🔗Collocations
📝Examples
“My grandfather always says, 'Why fight the crowd? I only shop during off-peak hours!'”
“Electricity is cheaper during off-peak hours, usually late at night.”
“I booked an off-peak flight to save money, but it left at 4 AM!”
“The gym is much less crowded during off-peak times, like early afternoon.”
📚Related Words
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