offense
or of·fence
[uh-fens or for 7–9, aw-fens, of-ens]
- 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.
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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
See more synonyms for offense on Thesaurus.com1, 2. trespass, felony, fault. 6. umbrage, resentment, wrath, indignation. 7. aggression. 8. besiegers, attackers, enemy, foe.
Synonym study
1, 2. See crime.
Antonyms
6. pleasure. 7. defense.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Examples from the Web for offense
Contemporary Examples
But the fun starts when conservatives stop playing defense and go on offense.
Of how incredibly petty the offense can be and how insanely disproportionate the retaliation can be.
Any critique may be treated as a security issue or an offense against the faith.
His only offense was a moral one, though none of his critics could possibly know the terms and nuances of his marriage.
Offense V.a: Illegal possession or use of drugs and/or alcohol and/or drug paraphernalia.
Historical Examples
For there is a play even with most serious things that has in it no offense.
Weighed and WantingGeorge MacDonald
I had tasted blood of my master's enemies; also Kokomo was afraid, and that is an offense to me.
The Trail BookMary Austin
“Not meaning any offense, it was something like that,” said Sucatash, candidly.
Louisiana LouWilliam West Winter
“The excuse more than condones the offense,” continued the other.
The StrollersFrederic S. Isham
"I've said nothing about any offense," he declared, in a hard, deliberate voice.
The Market-PlaceHarold Frederic
Word Origin and History for offense
n.
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.
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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
Idioms and Phrases with offense
offense
see no offense; take offense.
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The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.