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 not for publication; not to be quoted: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

adverb

1. with such an intention; unofficially

Word History and Origins

Origin of off-the-record¹

First recorded in 1930–35

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Unofficially, in confidence, not for publication, as in What he was about to say, he told the reporters, was strictly off the record .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 .

Related Words

• confidentially
• privately