offense
Americannoun
-
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.
- Synonyms:
- wrath, resentment, umbrage, indignation
- Antonyms:
- pleasure
-
the act of attacking; attack or assault.
weapons of offense.
- Synonyms:
- aggression
- Antonyms:
- defense
-
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.
Synonym Usage
See crime.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Etymology
Origin of offense
First recorded in 1325–75; Middle English offence, offense; in part from Middle French offens, from Latin offēnsus “collision, knock,” equivalent to offend(ere) ( see offend) + -tus suffix of verb action; in part from Middle French offense, ultimately from Latin offēnsa, feminine past participle of offendere
Explanation
The part of a team that tries to score points is called the offense. If you play forward on a soccer team, you are on offense. If you offend someone — that is you cause them to be upset because of your actions or words — then you may need to apologize for the offense. After all, you meant no offense when you said that disco was dead. How were you to know the guy still loved the '70s? In the eyes of the law, an offense is a crime.
Vocabulary lists containing offense
Set, Hut! Football Vocabulary
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
Words Football Fans Can Master Easily
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
Abraham Lincoln's Second Inaugural Address (1865)
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
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.
Josh Lowe’s first career grand slam was all the offense the Angels needed Sunday in a 4-1 victory over the Athletics.
From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 30, 2026
Cavanaugh wrote that the company will “control our own destiny, play offense and move with urgency.”
From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 30, 2026
The Dodgers took full advantage of the Padres’ defensive mistakes to jump-start their offense.
From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 28, 2026
Thomas allowed agents to make this snap judgment themselves, at the border, without “clear and convincing evidence” that the LPR really did commit the offense.
From Slate • Jun. 24, 2026
The more serious the justices consider the offense, the less likely that Helmuth will be tried as a juvenile.
From "The Boy Who Dared" by Susan Campbell Bartoletti
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.
