- a variation of offense.
offence
Americannoun
noun
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a violation or breach of a law, custom, rule, etc
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any public wrong or crime
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a nonindictable crime punishable on summary conviction
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annoyance, displeasure, or resentment
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to cause annoyance or displeasure to someone
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to feel injured, humiliated, or offended
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a source of annoyance, displeasure, or anger
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attack; assault
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archaic injury or harm
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American football
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the team that has possession of the ball
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the members of a team that play in such circumstances
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Other Word Forms
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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.
Vocabulary lists containing offence
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Two further arrests were made, one on suspicion of using words or behaviour likely to cause harassment, alarm or distress, and one on suspicion of an immigration offence.
From BBC ● Aug. 10, 2026
"This sort of intentional activity is likely to disturb seahorses, would potentially constitute an offence and would require a wildlife licence."
From BBC ● Aug. 6, 2026
Warner Bros defended the campaign, stating it had been prepared with "due responsibility to consumers and society" and was not designed to create fear or offence.
From BBC ● Aug. 5, 2026
Then when Shittu was punished for the same offence again despite hurting Ankush through the final round, the contest was effectively decided.
From BBC ● Aug. 1, 2026
‘No offence, but, uh . . . what’s an army of Amazons going to do against a wave of dirt?’
From "Blood of Olympus" by Rick Riordan
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
