offense

or of·fence

[uh-fens or for 7–9, aw-fens, of-ens]

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.
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

Related formsself-of·fense, noun

Synonyms for offense

See more synonyms for on Thesaurus.com

1, 2. trespass, felony, fault. 6. umbrage, resentment, wrath, indignation. 7. aggression. 8. besiegers, attackers, enemy, foe.

Synonym study

1, 2. See crime.

Antonyms for offense

6. pleasure. 7. defense.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Related Words for offense

infraction, misdemeanor, crime, transgression, misdeed, wrongdoing, breach, sin, assault, injury, attack, malfeasance, fault, lapse, wrong, peccadillo, delinquency, harm, battery, onslaught

Examples from the Web for offense

Contemporary Examples of 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
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
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
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
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

Historical Examples of offense

For there is a play even with most serious things that has in it no offense.
Weighed and Wanting
George MacDonald
I had tasted blood of my master's enemies; also Kokomo was afraid, and that is an offense to me.
The Trail Book
Mary Austin
“Not meaning any offense, it was something like that,” said Sucatash, candidly.
Louisiana Lou
William West Winter
“The excuse more than condones the offense,” continued the other.
The Strollers
Frederic S. Isham
"I've said nothing about any offense," he declared, in a hard, deliberate voice.
The Market-Place
Harold Frederic

Word Origin and History for 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.