IPA: /ˈkʊkˌɔf/
KK: /kukɔf/
A competition where participants prepare and cook food, usually to see who can make the best dish.
The annual cookoff attracted chefs from all over the region.
Cookoff is formed from "cook" (from Old English "coc", meaning to prepare food) and "off" (meaning away or apart). The term refers to a competition where participants prepare food, often in a competitive setting, away from their usual cooking environments.
Think of someone preparing food ('cook') in a competitive setting ('off') — that's what a cookoff is all about.
No commonly confused words.