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View synonyms for off-the-record

off-the-record

[ awf-thuh-rek-erd, of- ]

adjective

  1. not for publication; not to be quoted:

    a candidate's off-the-record remarks to reporters.

  2. confidential:

    off-the-record information.



off the record

adjective

  1. not intended for publication or disclosure; confidential
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012


adverb

  1. with such an intention; unofficially
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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Word History and Origins

Origin of off-the-record1

First recorded in 1930–35
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Idioms and Phrases

Unofficially, in confidence, not for publication, as in What he was about to say, he told the reporters, was strictly off the record . Probably alluding to striking evidence from a court record (because it is irrelevant or improper), this term came into wide use in the mid-1900s, especially with reference to persons who did not wish to be quoted by journalists. For antonyms, see go on record ; just for the record .
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Example Sentences

A little speculation would be fine, if it were happening off-the-record between journalists and law-enforcement officials.

FDR would go so far as to suggest story frames and offer off-the-record tips from the highest source in the land.

I had an off-the-record dinner with a Ukrainian senior level official.

“Off-the-record conversations happen all the time in the offline world,” the company notes.

Once upon a time, a speaker might have expected that an off-the-record, closed-door speech in a private home would be "private."

You mentioned in your off-the-record discussion that you had thought to yourself isn't it possible that Marina is a great actress.

A few minutes ago I asked you about your judgment of Marina Oswald's character and we had an off-the-record discussion.

I had that off-the-record gag worked on me when I was about Larv's age, fifty years ago.

Is there anything that occurred during our off-the-record discussions that is pertinent, which I have failed to bring out.

Is there anything that occurred during those off-the-record sessions which you regard as pertinent which I have not brought out?

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Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.

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off the railsoff-the-shelf