offside

American  

[awf-sahyd, of-] / ˈɔfˈsaɪd, ˈɒf- /

adjective

1. Sports. illegally beyond a prescribed line or area or in advance of the ball or puck at the beginning of or during play or a play.

   The touchdown was nullified because the offensive left tackle was offside.

2. with or in doubtful propriety or taste; risqué.

   an offside joke.

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offside British  

/ ˈɒfˈsaɪd /

adjective

1. sport (in football, hockey, etc) in a position illegally ahead of the ball or puck when it is played, usually when within one's opponents' half or the attacking zone

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noun

1. 1. the side of a vehicle nearest the centre of the road (in Britain, the right side)

   2. ( as modifier )

      the offside passenger door

Etymology

Origin of offside

First recorded in 1840–50; off + side ¹

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

offside

After Tanook Hines dropped a third-down pass, USC lined up to draw Rutgers offside, and it worked.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 19, 2026

However, it soon became apparent that the officials had made an error in failing to identify an offside offence by Enzo Fernandez, diving at the ball in a central position and interfering with opponents.

From BBC ● Sep. 16, 2026

Manchester City striker Erling Haaland thought he had scored the only goal of the game at Old Trafford in the 60th minute, but it was disallowed on the field for offside.

From BBC ● Sep. 15, 2026

But Morris was narrowly offside on the play, negating the goal.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 13, 2026

The timing was perfect: a Blue Springs midfielder booted the ball over the Fugees defense, and to an apparently offside forward.

From "Outcasts United: An American Town, a Refugee Team, and One Woman's Quest to Make a Difference" by Warren St. John

Related Words

• erroneous
• inaccurate
• mistaken
• sadly mistaken
• wrong