standoff

noun
UK: /ˈstænd.ɒf/
US: /ˈstænd.ɔːf/

  1. A situation in which neither side in a conflict can win or is willing to give in, resulting in a deadlock.

    1. The police had a standoff with the armed suspect.
    2. Negotiations reached a standoff, with both sides refusing to compromise, prolonging the standoff.

  2. A situation where two or more parties are in opposition but there is no active fighting or engagement.

    1. The tense standoff between the countries continues.
    2. After hours of a tense standoff, the protesters dispersed peacefully, ending the standoff.

Synonyms

tie stalemate draw impasse deadlock
standoff intransitive-verb

  1. To be in a state of deadlock or stalemate; to refuse to give way.

    1. The two armies stood off for several days.
    2. The negotiators stand off, refusing to budge on their key demands, creating a standoff.

Frequently Asked Questions

The word "standoff" in English means: A situation in which neither side in a conflict can win or is willing to give in, resulting in a deadlock., A situation where two or more parties are in opposition but there is no active fighting or engagement..

The phonetic transcription of "standoff" is /ˈstænd.ɒf/ in British English and /ˈstænd.ɔːf/ in American English. Click the 🔊 button to hear both pronunciations.

Synonyms for "standoff": tie, stalemate, draw, impasse, deadlock.

Example usage of "standoff": "The police had a standoff with the armed suspect.". More examples on the page.