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definitions

offence

[uh-fens, aw-fens, of-ens]
||

noun

offense.

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Nearby words

  1. offbeat,
  2. offboard,
  3. offcast,
  4. offcut,
  5. offenbach,
  6. offend,
  7. offender,
  8. offending,
  9. offense,
  10. offenseless

offense

or of·fence

[uh-fens or for 7–9, aw-fens, of-ens]

noun

a violation or breaking of a social or moral rule; transgression; sin.
a transgression of the law; misdemeanor.
a cause of transgression or wrong.
something that offends or displeases.
the act of offending or displeasing.
the feeling of resentful displeasure caused: to give offense.
the act of attacking; attack or assault: weapons of offense.
a person, army, etc., that is attacking.
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.
Archaic. injury, harm, or hurt.

Origin of offense

1325–75; Middle English offence, offense; in part < Middle French offens < Latin offēnsus collision, knock, equivalent to offend(ere) (see offend) + -tus suffix of v. action; in part < Middle French offense ≪ Latin offēnsa, feminine past participle of offendere
SYNONYMS FOR offense
1, 2. trespass, felony, fault. 6. umbrage, resentment, wrath, indignation. 7. aggression. 8. besiegers, attackers, enemy, foe.
ANTONYMS FOR offense
6. pleasure. 7. defense.
Related formsself-of·fense, noun

Synonym study

1, 2. See crime.
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for offence

British Dictionary definitions for offence

offence

US offense

noun

a violation or breach of a law, custom, rule, etc
  1. any public wrong or crime
  2. a nonindictable crime punishable on summary conviction
annoyance, displeasure, or resentment
give offence or give offence to someone to cause annoyance or displeasure to someone
take offence to feel injured, humiliated, or offended
a source of annoyance, displeasure, or anger
attack; assault
archaic injury or harm
the offense (ˈɒfɛns) American football
  1. the team that has possession of the ball
  2. the members of a team that play in such circumstances
Derived Formsoffenceless or US offenseless, adjective
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Word Origin and History for offence
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
Idioms and Phrases with offence

offense

see no offense; take offense.

The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.