trade-off

• POS: Noun

CIDE DICTIONARY

trade-off, n. 

•  the exchange of one thing (object, right, opportunity) for another of approximately equal value, so as to seal a bargain, or effect a compromise.  [PJC]
•  the giving up of one desired objective in order to attain another, when both cannot be achieved at the same time; as, the factory workers viewed the trade-off of air quality for jobs as a necessary evil.  [PJC]