noun
: the monetary or other advantage surrendered for something in order to acquire it in competition with other potential users
the opportunity cost method is clearly applicable in determining the value of a property that can be shifted to another use — M.S.Kendrick
by putting such things as leisure, safety, and agreeableness of work into the utility scales of the individuals, the disutility of any occupation can be represented as an opportunity cost — B.E.Lippincott