Unenviable exchange

• Giving up of one thing for another
• Quid pro quo
• Compromise made for balance
• Exchange that is part of a compromise
• An exchange that occurs as a compromise
• Sacrifice of square footage for location, e.g
• Alternate

Wiktionary Word definitions in Wiktionary
alt. An advantage or improvement that necessitates the corresponding loss or degradation of something else. n. An advantage or improvement that necessitates the corresponding loss or degradation of something else.

WordNet Word definitions in WordNet
n. an exchange that occurs as a compromise; "I faced a tradeoff between eating and buying my medicine" [syn: trade-off ]

The Collaborative International Dictionary Word definitions in The Collaborative International Dictionary
Tradeoff \Trade"off\, Trade-off \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. the giving up of one desired objective in order to attain ...