1An item or amount that is or may be set off against another in the settlement of accounts.
（账目清算）抵消；账目轧平
Example sentencesExamples
Depending upon the circumstances, they could constitute counterbalancing set-offs of credit and debit amounts.
Yesterday, he gave a speech to the Economic Club of Washington, in which he said he was ‘open’ to across-the-board budget cuts, and also endorsed finding set-offs to balance hurricane relief spending.
1.1Law A counterbalancing debt pleaded by the defendant in an action to recover money due.
〔律〕债务抵消
Example sentencesExamples
The defendants allege deficiencies in the plaintiff's work, and non-performance of one item, and claim a set-off against any amount found due to the plaintiff.
Therefore, I find that the defendants have not proven any amount by way of a set-off or counterclaim.
A bond is treated as the equivalent of a bill of exchange or a letter of credit, so that it follows that normally a set-off or counterclaim will not be enough to prevent judgment being given.
Grant and Deegan have, however, counterclaimed against Lamartine for damages for breach of contract and assert a set-off of the amounts owing to Lamartine.
If that is right, then the defendants are entitled to rely on their counterclaim as a set-off.
1.2dated A counterbalancing or compensating circumstance or condition.
〈旧〉抵消（或补偿）情况（或条件）
as a set-off against such discussions there had come an improvement in their pecuniary position
他们的财务状况有了改进，这就抵消掉了此类讨论。
2A step or shoulder at which the thickness of part of a building or machine is reduced.
（建筑物或机器厚度缩小形成的）踏脚；踏肩
3Printing mass nounThe unwanted transference of ink from one printed sheet or page to another before it has set.
〔印刷〕蹭脏
Definition of set-off in US English:
set-off
nounˈsɛdˌɔfˈsedˌôf
1An item or amount that is or may be set off against another in the settlement of accounts.
（账目清算）抵消；账目轧平
Example sentencesExamples
Depending upon the circumstances, they could constitute counterbalancing set-offs of credit and debit amounts.
Yesterday, he gave a speech to the Economic Club of Washington, in which he said he was ‘open’ to across-the-board budget cuts, and also endorsed finding set-offs to balance hurricane relief spending.
1.1Law A counterbalancing debt pleaded by the defendant in an action to recover money due.
〔律〕债务抵消
Example sentencesExamples
A bond is treated as the equivalent of a bill of exchange or a letter of credit, so that it follows that normally a set-off or counterclaim will not be enough to prevent judgment being given.
Grant and Deegan have, however, counterclaimed against Lamartine for damages for breach of contract and assert a set-off of the amounts owing to Lamartine.
The defendants allege deficiencies in the plaintiff's work, and non-performance of one item, and claim a set-off against any amount found due to the plaintiff.
Therefore, I find that the defendants have not proven any amount by way of a set-off or counterclaim.
If that is right, then the defendants are entitled to rely on their counterclaim as a set-off.
1.2dated A counterbalancing or compensating circumstance or condition.
〈旧〉抵消（或补偿）情况（或条件）
as a set-off against such discussions there had come an improvement in their pecuniary position
他们的财务状况有了改进，这就抵消掉了此类讨论。
2A step or shoulder at which the thickness of part of a building or machine is reduced.
（建筑物或机器厚度缩小形成的）踏脚；踏肩
3Printing The unwanted transference of ink from one printed sheet or page to another before it has set.