dropoff

Drop-off, or dropoff, is a term with several related meanings in English. As a noun, it can designate a decline or decrease in quantity, quality, or activity, as in a drop-off in sales. It can also refer to a place where something is dropped off, such as a parcel drop-off point or a passenger drop-off zone. As a verb, the phrasal verb drop off means to deliver or deposit something at a location, to fall asleep, or to disengage from an activity.

In logistics and service industries, drop-off points are designated locations where items are handed over for delivery, collection, or return. Examples include parcel lockers, post offices, drive-through drop-off lanes, and retail stores that accept returns. The concept is often paired with pickup through a separate route or with curbside service. The term is used in route planning to describe the endpoint where goods or passengers are dropped from a vehicle. The reliability and efficiency of drop-off processes influence customer satisfaction and supply chain performance.

In geography and geology, a drop-off can describe a sudden vertical or near-vertical descent in terrain, such as the edge of a cliff or a shelf in a seabed slope. This usage appears in landscape descriptions, topographic maps, and discussions of underwater features.

Origin and usage notes: the term derives from the verb to drop off, meaning to deposit or fall away. Hyphenation varies, with “drop-off” and “dropoff” both found in use. The term is widely understood across industries, but precise meaning is clarified by context.