one-off

English

Etymology

From one +‎ off. Probably from foundry work, for which making reusable molds is expensive and expediency the rule for molds not to be used only once.

A term long used by artists who are printmakers and sculptors to indicate a unique print or casting. If using traditional edition numbering, a one-off would be a "1/1", which is said, "one of one" meaning the first print in an edition of one.

Pronunciation

• Audio (US)

  (file)

• Audio (AU)

  (file)

Adjective

one-off (comparative more one-off, superlative most one-off)

1. Occurring once, independent of any pattern; one-time.

   The government insisted that the embarrassing loss of the tax records was a one-off event.

   Seeing Halley's Comet is a one-off, once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

   • 1905, Foundry, volume 50, page 198:

     If such a casting was wanted in a hurry — a one-off job — there would be no question of molding it on a machine.

   • 2006 September 1, EIU Country Analysis, Malta: Country outlook:

     Moreover, given that recent measures to cut the deficit have been more one-off than of a structural fiscal nature, meeting this debt target is likely only

   • 2015 May 6, Colin O'Carroll, “Fermanagh woman thought registering a royal baby was a one-off honour... now Princess Charlotte has come along she's done it twice”, in Belfast Telegraph‎^[1], retrieved 2015-05-14:

     A County Fermanagh woman has officiated at the formal registration of the birth of Princess Charlotte at Kensington Palace. It's the second time she's been on royal baby duty at the palace as she previously officiated at the registration of Prince George. She said at the time that it was a "one-off" honour, but that has now been disproved with a repeat visit for Princess Charlotte.

   • 2020 December 16, “Network News: "Robust case" for Fawley branch line reopening”, in Rail, page 14:

     In July, South Western Railway and Network Rail ran a one-off Class 159 to Fawley, to demonstrate the line's viability. [...] A second 'fact-finding' trial passenger train for DfT officials is now proposed.

   • Once definition

     One and only one time. (1 of 5 once definitions)

   • Independent definition

     Not dependent; not contingent or depending on something else; free. (1 of 5 independent definitions)

   • Pattern definition

     Model, example.

     1. Something from which a copy is made; a model or outline.
     2. Someone or something seen as an example to be imitated; an exemplar.
     3. A copy.
     4. A sample; of coins, an example which was struck but never minted.
     5. A representative example.
     6. The material needed to make a piece of clothing.
     7. The paper or cardboard template from which the parts of a garment are traced onto fabric prior to cutting out and assembling.
     8. A full-sized model around which a mould of sand is made, to receive the melted metal. It is usually made of wood and in several parts, so as to be removed from the mould without damage.
     9. A text string containing wildcards, used for matching. (1 of 17 pattern definitions)

   • One-Time definition

     Of or pertaining to a specific time in the past. (1 of 2 one-time definitions)

   • Fawley definition

     A village and civil parish in New Forest district, Hampshire, England . (1 of 2 Fawley definitions)

   • Dft definition

     Initialism of Department for Transport.
2. Singular; unique; special; remarkable.
   • 2015 May 13, Hunter Skipworth, “BMW to create one-off tribute to 3.0 CSL”, in Evo‎^[2], retrieved 2015-05-14:

     BMW is to create a one-off tribute to the iconic 3.0 CSL.

   • Singular definition

     Being only one of a larger population. (1 of 10 singular definitions)

   • Unique definition

     Being the only one of its kind; unequaled, unparalleled or unmatched. (1 of 4 unique definitions)

   • Special definition

     Distinguished by a unique or unusual quality. (1 of 6 special definitions)

   • Remarkable definition

     Worthy of being remarked or noted; notable (1 of 2 remarkable definitions)

Usage notes

• Much more common outside US. Relative usage frequency 5% (COCA versus BNC).

Synonyms

• nonce
• one-shot

Translations

Noun

one-off (plural one-offs)

1. (idiomatic) Something that is done, created, etc. only once, and often quickly, simply, or improvisationally.

   I'll put together a quick one-off as a sample so we can taste the recipe.

   • Quickly definition

     Rapidly; with speed; fast. (1 of 2 quickly definitions)

   • Simply definition

     In a simple way or state; considered in or by itself; without addition; alone. (1 of 6 simply definitions)

   • Improvisation definition

     The act or art of composing and making music, poetry, and the like, extemporaneously (1 of 4 improvisation definitions)
2. Something unique and remarkable.

   It is a one-off; there is nothing else like it.

Translations

See also

• break the mold, break the mould

References

• “one-off”, in Lexico, Dictionary.com; Oxford University Press, 2019–2022.