Tradeoff \Trade"off\, Trade-off \Trade"-off\, n.
1. the exchange of one thing (object, right, opportunity) for
another of approximately equal value, so as to seal a
bargain, or effect a compromise.
[PJC]
2. the giving up of one desired objective in order to attain
another, when both cannot be achieved at the same time;
as, the factory workers viewed the trade-off of air
quality for jobs as a necessary evil.
[PJC]