far-off

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "far-off" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used to describe something that is distant in space or time. Example: "The far-off mountains were barely visible through the haze."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

6 human-written examples

That's a far-off target.

The New York Times

The restoration of democracy looks far-off.

The Economist

That is still a far-off prospect.

The Economist

Ted moved to far-off Anchorage, Alaska.

The New Yorker

And some far-off ideas too".

The New York Times

Almost no speculation seemed too far-off.

Forbes

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

54 human-written examples

Both are far off.

The Economist

Not far off".

The New Yorker

Coyotes howled, far off.

The New Yorker

(Not too far off).

The New York Times - Travel

He's not far off.

The New York Times - Books

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "far-off" when you want to convey a sense of remoteness that can apply both to physical distance and time. It often adds a slightly evocative or wistful tone.

Common error

Avoid separating "far" and "off" when using it as an adjective before a noun (e.g., "far-off lands"). "Far off" (two words) is used as an adverbial phrase modifying a verb (e.g., "The destination is far off").

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "far-off" is as a compound adjective. It modifies nouns to indicate that something is remote in either space or time. Ludwig AI's examples showcase this, describing "far-off Anchorage, Alaska" or "far-off ideas".

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "far-off" functions as a compound adjective used to describe something that is remote either in space or time. While grammatically correct, according to Ludwig AI, its frequency is considered uncommon. Examples are found primarily in news and media sources. When using "far-off", ensure you are conveying both distance and a subtle sense of remoteness or wistfulness. Avoid mistaking its function as an adjective for the adverbial phrase "far off". For alternatives, you can choose between "distant", "remote", or "faraway".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

faraway

Similar to "far-off", this emphasizes the distance and often carries a sense of exoticism or dreaminess.

distant

This alternative emphasizes spatial separation, similar to "far-off", but lacks the potential temporal implication.

remote

Like "distant", this word stresses physical separation, but may also imply inaccessibility or isolation.

in the distance

This phrase specifically indicates spatial remoteness, focusing on visibility from a certain point.

long-term

When referring to time, this highlights that an event or result will take a considerable amount of time to materialize.

down the road

This idiom suggests something will happen in the future but is not an immediate concern.

in the future

This expression indicates something will happen at a later time, generally not specified.

over the horizon

Suggests an event is impending, but distant in time.

out of reach

Implies something is unattainable or inaccessible, either literally or figuratively.

not within reach

A more formal version of "out of reach", suggesting unattainability.

FAQs

What does "far-off" mean?

The term "far-off" means distant, either in space or time. It describes something that is remote or not easily accessible.

What can I say instead of "far-off"?

You can use alternatives like "distant", "remote", or "faraway", depending on the context.

How do I use "far-off" in a sentence?

You can use "far-off" to describe a location (e.g., "a far-off land"), a time (e.g., "a far-off future"), or an idea (e.g., "a far-off prospect").

Is "far-off" the same as "far away"?

While both indicate distance, "far-off" often carries a slightly more literary or evocative connotation than "far away", which is a more straightforward description of distance. You can use "faraway" and "distant" to express similar ideas.