noun
standoff
STAN-dof
noun
1
A tense confrontation in which neither side backs down or advances.
"Police were locked in a two-hour standoff with the armed suspect."
2
A device or fitting that keeps two objects a fixed distance apart.
"The sign was mounted on metal standoffs a few inches from the wall."
How to Use Standoff
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA tense deadlock where neither side moves, or a hardware part that keeps two things spaced apart.
Common pairings
tense standoff
armed standoff
Word Forms
standoffs plural
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Police were locked in a two-hour _____ with the armed suspect.
Etymology
Formed from the phrasal verb "stand off," turned into a single noun.