offense

British, of·fence

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

noun

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, 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.

Other Word Forms

• self-offense noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of offense¹

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

Idioms and Phrases

see no offense; take offense.

Synonym Study

See crime.

Example Sentences

From there, the Dodgers’ offense never looked back.

From Los Angeles Times

His first season wasn’t easy, with a young pitching staff and a patchwork offense struggling to find consistency for much of the year.

From Los Angeles Times

An offense that can’t run the ball or consistently sustain drives.

From Los Angeles Times

For an offense usually predicated on a disciplined daily approach and ability to work quality at-bats, there were long stretches of the season in which that edge would seemingly soften.

From Los Angeles Times

The 22-year-old Dart replaces the struggling Russell Wilson and takes over an offense that has scored fewer than 10 points in two of three games.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

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