Drop-off vs. Drop Off vs. Dropoff
Merriam-Webster records hyphenated “drop-off” as the noun and two-word “drop off” as the verb. The closed spelling “dropoff” is a common search variant, but this guide does not treat it as the default Merriam-Webster headword.
Use “drop-off” for the noun and “drop off” for the verb; avoid assuming closed “dropoff” is the standard form in every style.
Key details
Choose the right form
| Meaning / situation | Form / construction | Decision |
|---|---|---|
| a decline, delivery point, or delivery event is named as a noun | drop-off | Use the hyphenated noun in the reviewed Merriam-Webster treatment. |
| the action is expressed as a verb | drop off | Use the two-word phrasal verb. |
| a closed spelling appears in another style or system | dropoff | Treat it as a variant/style question rather than assuming it is the default everywhere. |
Quick tests
Meaning / construction test
Can the expression be conjugated as a verb, such as “dropped off” or “dropping off”?
If yes: Use the open verb “drop off.”
If no: If it names a thing or event, use the reviewed noun “drop-off”; check house style before normalizing a closed “dropoff” form.
Caveat: The reviewed source supports “drop-off” as the noun and “drop off” as the verb. Do not turn that source boundary into a universal ban on every closed-style variant.
Examples
There was a sharp drop-off in attendance.
The expression is a noun naming a decline.
I will drop off the parcel after lunch.
The expression is a verb and therefore stays open.
The school created a new drop-off area.
The hyphenated noun modifies “area.”
Further guidance
Core difference
The reviewed Merriam-Webster entry distinguishes hyphenated noun “drop-off” from open verb “drop off.”
Fast Test
If you can conjugate it—“dropped off,” “dropping off”—use two words.
Variant Boundary
Do not turn this into a universal ban on “dropoff”; dictionaries and house styles can differ, so this page states the boundary supported by the reviewed source.
Sources and evidence
Sources are shown with the role they play in this guide. Historical or style-sensitive claims are kept within the evidence boundary described above.
- Drop-off — Merriam-Webster (opens in a new tab)Merriam-Webster · Drop-off noun and drop off verb spelling boundary