offence

American  

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

noun

British.

1. variant of offense.

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offence British  

/ əˈfɛns /

noun

1. a violation or breach of a law, custom, rule, etc

2. 1. any public wrong or crime

   2. a nonindictable crime punishable on summary conviction

3. annoyance, displeasure, or resentment

4. to cause annoyance or displeasure to someone

5. to feel injured, humiliated, or offended

6. a source of annoyance, displeasure, or anger

7. attack; assault

8. archaic injury or harm

9. American football

   1. the team that has possession of the ball

   2. the members of a team that play in such circumstances

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Other Word Forms

• offenceless
  adjective

Compare meaning

How does offence compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• offence vs. defence

Explanation

Offence is the British spelling of offense, meaning "a punishable act." If you break a law for the first time, it’s your first offence. The noun offence comes from the Latin word offendere, which means “strike against.” Any time you break a law or a rule it is an offence against that law or rule. Also meaning "rudeness" — or the anger caused by it. In countries like the United States, the preferred spelling is offense, so don't take offense if someone corrects you.

Example Sentences

Wolf Hall was also nominated in the best drama series category, alongside Humans, No Offence and The Last Panthers.

From BBC • Mar. 30, 2016

It recently emerged that the actress, who was replaced in the production by The Paradise and No Offence star Elaine Cassidy, had suffered a personal bereavement.

From BBC • Dec. 18, 2015

Oxford’s student union banned No Offence, a magazine featuring stories defending colonialism and other controversies, from being distributed at its freshers’ fair.

From Economist • Oct. 27, 2015

He puffs out his chest in a comic pose of Offence Being Taken.

From The Guardian • Jul. 16, 2011

But he considered it best not to aggravate the Offence by writing again.

From The Letters of the Duke of Wellington to Miss J. 1834-1851 Edited by Extracts from the Diary of the Latter by Wellington, Duke of