offense

or of·fence

[ uh-fens or for 7–9, aw-fens, of-ens ]

/ əˈfɛns or for 7–9, ˈɔ fɛns, ˈɒf ɛns /

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR offense ON THESAURUS.COM

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.

the players or team unit responsible for attacking or scoring in a game.
the players possessing or controlling the ball, puck, etc., or the aspects or period of a game when this obtains.
a pattern or style of scoring attack: single-wing offense; fast-break offense.
offensive effectiveness; ability to score: a total breakdown in offense.

Archaic. injury, harm, or hurt.

Nearby words

offenbach, offence, offend, offender, offending, offense, offenseless, offensive, offensively, offer, offer document

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.

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR offense ON THESAURUS.COM

ANTONYMS FOR offense

6 pleasure.

7 defense.

SEE MORE ANTONYMS FOR offense ON THESAURUS.COM

Related formsself-of·fense, noun

Synonym study

1, 2. See crime.

Examples from the Web for offense

But the fun starts when conservatives stop playing defense and go on offense.
Steve Scalise and the Right’s Ridiculous Racial Blame Game|Michael Tomasky|January 2, 2015|DAILY BEAST
Of how incredibly petty the offense can be and how insanely disproportionate the retaliation can be.
Of Gamers, Gates, and Disco Demolition: The Roots of Reactionary Rage|Arthur Chu|October 16, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Any critique may be treated as a security issue or an offense against the faith.
Forget About a Kindler Gentler Iran|Nina Strochlic|August 19, 2014|DAILY BEAST
His only offense was a moral one, though none of his critics could possibly know the terms and nuances of his marriage.
Too Late To 'Pologize For NSA Revenge Porn Leak|Lizzie Crocker|June 28, 2014|DAILY BEAST

Offense V.a: Illegal possession or use of drugs and/or alcohol and/or drug paraphernalia.
Is Sex Assault a Crime in the Ivy League?|Olivia Nuzzi|May 10, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Whatever the offense was, it was in the flesh, the result of weakness rather than malice.
Explanation of Catholic Morals|John H. Stapleton
This very correctness was part of the offense he gave his rivals and their followers.
Martin Van Buren|Edward M. Shepard
It is a common occurrence to shoot down men here for any offense whatever.
Tenting on the Plains|Elizabeth B. Custer
But when he was promoted adjutant over the heads of many worthy lieutenants, Col. Brown added greatly to the offense.
Company G|A. R. (Albert Rowe) Barlow
This checkup determined which slaves were late or who had committed some offense late on the day before or during the night.
Slave Narratives: A Folk History of Slavery in the United States|Work Projects Administration

Word Origin and History for offense

offense

late 14c., "hurt, harm, injury, pain," from Old French ofense "offense, insult, wrong" (13c.) and directly from Latin offensa "an offense, injury, affront, crime," literally "a striking against," noun use of fem. past participle of offendere (see offend). Meaning "action of attacking" and "feeling of being hurt" are both first recorded c.1400. Sense of "breach of the law, transgression" is first recorded late 14c. Sporting sense first recorded 1894.

Idioms and Phrases with offense

offense

see no offense; take offense.

offense

or of·fence

noun

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Origin of offense

Synonym study

Examples from the Web for offense

Word Origin and History for offense

offense

Idioms and Phrases with offense

offense