off the record 1 adv. phr. Confidentially. "Off the record," the boss said, "you will get a good raise for next year, but you'll have to wait for the official letter."
Antonym: ON RECORD, GO ON RECORD, JUST FOR THE RECORD.
off the record 2 adj. phr. Not to be published or told; secret; confidential. The president told the reporters his remarks were strictly off the record. Sometimes used with hyphens, before the noun. The governor was angry when a newspaper printed his off-the-record comments.