something, as land or profits, set aside for a particular purpose.
a tract of federal lands set aside as a wildlife refuge, oil exploration site, etc.
a tract of farmland on which commercial crops or a specific crop will not be grown, as part of a federal plan to decrease production in order to maintain or increase prices.
a specified amount or percentage of an industry's production set aside, esp. for government use: Ten percent of gasoline production is a set-aside for emergency use by the state.
a government contract awarded, as to a minority-owned business, without competitive bidding.
—adj.
pertaining to or constituting a set-aside: set-aside provisions of the new law.