offense

American  

[uh-fens, aw-fens, of-ens] / əˈfɛns, ˈɔ fɛns, ˈɒf ɛns /

British, offence

noun

• offenses
  plural

1. a violation or breaking of a social or moral rule; transgression; sin.

   Synonyms:

   fault, felony, trespass

2. a transgression of the law; misdemeanor.

   Synonyms:

   fault, felony, trespass

3. a cause of transgression or wrong.

4. something that offends or displeases.

5. the act of offending or displeasing.

6. the feeling of resentful displeasure caused.

   to give offense.

   Synonyms:

   wrath, resentment, umbrage, indignation

   Antonyms:

   pleasure

7. the act of attacking; attack or assault.

   weapons of offense.

   Synonyms:

   aggression

   Antonyms:

   defense

8. a person, army, etc., that is attacking.

   Synonyms:

   foe, enemy

9. Sports.

   1. the players or team unit responsible for attacking or scoring in a game.

   2. the players possessing or controlling the ball, puck, etc., or the aspects or period of a game when this obtains.

   3. a pattern or style of scoring attack.

      single-wing offense; fast-break offense.

   4. offensive effectiveness; ability to score.

      a total breakdown in offense.

10. Archaic. injury, harm, or hurt.

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offense Idioms  

1. see no offense; take offense.

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Synonym Usage

See crime.

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• self-offense
  noun

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• offenses
  plural

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Etymology

Origin of offense

First recorded in 1325–75; Middle English offence, offense; in part from Middle French offens, from Latin offēnsus “collision, knock,” equivalent to offend(ere) ( see offend) + -tus suffix of verb action; in part from Middle French offense, ultimately from Latin offēnsa, feminine past participle of offendere

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Explanation

The part of a team that tries to score points is called the offense. If you play forward on a soccer team, you are on offense. If you offend someone — that is you cause them to be upset because of your actions or words — then you may need to apologize for the offense. After all, you meant no offense when you said that disco was dead. How were you to know the guy still loved the '70s? In the eyes of the law, an offense is a crime.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

offense offenses

Mike McDaniel is shifting his perspective in an attempt to revive the Chargers’ dead offense.

From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 7, 2026

McDaniel valued calling plays from the sideline because of the face-to-face communication with Herbert and other members of the Chargers’ offense.

From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 7, 2026

“But to me, the secret to offense has always been up front: being able to run the football and protect the quarterback. And Jason always has understood that and been good at it.”

From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 5, 2026

The Los Angeles Lakers offense is averaging 120.3 points per game, the third-highest mark in the league.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 3, 2026

No offense to Dad, but he could never write this.

From "How to Disappear Completely" by Ali Standish

They’re also one of the best rushing offenses, averaging 213 yards on the ground while hoarding possession for 33 minutes a game.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 5, 2026

Nashiri was charged in April 2011 with offenses including murder in violation of the law of war and terrorism, but his case has been mired in pre-trial proceedings for years.

From Barron's ● Nov. 2, 2026

After Tuesday’s game featuring a matchup of the NBA’s two best offenses, they dropped to 22nd in defensive rating.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 28, 2026

Charges of criminal negligence or recklessness, though, depend on whether specific offenses exist in the relevant law and how they’re worded.

From Slate ● Oct. 25, 2026

But compared with going to the Deuce with Jimmy, those were minor offenses.

From "We'll Fly Away" by Bryan Bliss

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Related Words

• breach
• crime
• infraction
• misdeed
• misdemeanor
• sin
• transgression
• wrongdoing

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