Source : Free On-Line Dictionary of Computing

backoff
     
         A {host} which has experienced a {collision} on a
        {network} waits for a amount of time before attempting to
        retransmit.  A random backoff minimises the probability that
        the same nodes will collide again, even if they are using the
        same backoff algorithm.  Increasing the backoff period after
        each collision also helps to prevent repeated collisions,
        especially when the network is heavily loaded.
     
        An example algorithm is {binary exponential backoff}.
     
        (1996-05-28)