onceoff

One-off, also written one-off or once-off, is a term used to describe something that happens, is produced, or is paid only once and does not recur. It can function as either a noun or an adjective and is commonly applied across finance, business, events, and manufacturing to distinguish nonrecurring items from regular, repeating ones.

In finance and accounting, a one-off payment or charge refers to a single, nonrecurring expense or receipt, such as a settlement, a severance payment, or a special grant. In business and project contexts, a one-off task or project is not part of ongoing operations and may require special planning, budget, or setup costs. In events, a one-off event is scheduled to occur a single time rather than as part of a recurring program. In manufacturing, a one-off production run produces a unique item or a limited batch rather than standard mass production. In software and licensing, a one-off license denotes a single purchase rather than a subscription or perpetual model.

Spelling and usage vary by region and style guide. Hyphenation is common, with one-off as the standard adjective form and occasionally once-off in some varieties of English. The form one-off can also function as a noun, as in “the project was funded with a one-off.” Related terms include nonrecurring, nonrecurring expense, and one-time, though nuances differ (nonrecurring emphasizes frequency, while one-time emphasizes timing).

See also: nonrecurring, one-time, recurring.