castoff: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
B2neutral to informal, with specific technical uses in sports and textiles.
Quick answer
What does “castoff” mean?
discarded or rejected as no longer useful or wanted.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
discarded or rejected as no longer useful or wanted; to discard or reject something/someone.
In sports (especially cricket or American football), refers to a player who has been released by a team; in sewing, a preliminary measurement to calculate fabric needed; in printing, an estimate of the space a text will occupy.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Spelling: 'cast-off' (with hyphen) is more common in UK, 'castoff' (solid) slightly more common in US. Usage in sports: 'castoff' for a released player is common in US sports journalism; in UK, might use 'discarded player' or specific terms like 'released cricketer'.
Connotations
Both carry a slight negative connotation of being unwanted, but this is neutralised in technical contexts (e.g., textiles).
Frequency
Slightly more frequent in American English, particularly in sports contexts.
Grammar
How to Use “castoff” in a Sentence
VERB: cast off (phrasal verb) + OBJECT (She cast off her old worries).ADJECTIVE: castoff + NOUN (castoff clothing).NOUN: VERB + castoff (He became a castoff).Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “castoff” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- It was time to cast off her inhibitions and speak freely.
- The ship will cast off from the dock at noon.
American English
- He decided to cast off his former identity and start anew.
- The boat cast off into the calm lake.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare. Might describe obsolete equipment or a divested subsidiary.
Academic
Rare in general academia; appears in literary criticism describing discarded characters or themes.
Everyday
Most common for describing unwanted clothing, furniture, or sometimes people.
Technical
Specific uses in knitting (to finish a row), sailing (to untie), textiles (estimate), printing (estimate), and sports (released player).
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “castoff”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “castoff”
- Using 'castoff' as the primary verb form instead of 'cast off'. (Incorrect: 'I will castoff this coat.' Correct: 'I will cast off this coat.')
- Confusing 'castoff' (rejected thing) with 'hand-me-down' (used thing passed on, not necessarily rejected).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
'Castoff' often implies the item may still have use or value for someone else (like clothing), while 'throw away' suggests disposal as rubbish. 'Castoff' can also apply to people metaphorically.
The verb form is the phrasal verb 'cast off' (two words). 'Castoff' as a single word is primarily a noun or adjective.
It can be, especially when describing people, as it implies rejection. When describing objects in charity contexts, it is more neutral, simply meaning 'no longer needed by the original owner'.
It refers to a player who has been released or not retained by their team, often with the implication that another team might sign them, giving them a second chance.
discarded or rejected as no longer useful or wanted.
Castoff is usually neutral to informal, with specific technical uses in sports and textiles. in register.
Castoff: in British English it is pronounced /ˈkɑːst ɒf/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈkæst ɔːf/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Cast off the old, embrace the new.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine CASTing a piece of clothing OFF a ship into the sea because you don't want it anymore.
Conceptual Metaphor
REJECTION IS THROWING AWAY / PEOPLE ARE OBJECTS (when used for persons).
Practice
Quiz
In which context is 'castoff' used as a specific technical term?